An illustrated history of Southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time; together with glimpses of their prospects; also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day, Part 115

Author: Lewis Publishing Company
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1038

USA > California > Los Angeles County > An illustrated history of Southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time; together with glimpses of their prospects; also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 115
USA > California > San Diego County > An illustrated history of Southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time; together with glimpses of their prospects; also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 115
USA > California > Orange County > An illustrated history of Southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time; together with glimpses of their prospects; also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 115
USA > California > San Bernardino County > An illustrated history of Southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time; together with glimpses of their prospects; also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 115

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

ANNALS 1849-1889.

On April 4, 1850, an act of the Legislature incorporated Los Angeles as a city. The munic- ipal government was organized July 3. The personnel was as follows: Mayor, A. P. Hodges; Common Council, David W. Alexander, Alex- ander Bell, Manuel Requena, John Temple, Morris L. Goodman, Cristobal Aguilar, Julian Chavez; Recorder, John G. Nichols; Treasurer, Francisco Figueroa; Assessor, Antonio F. Cor- onel; Marshal, Samuel Whiting; Attorney, Ben- jamin Hayes.

740

HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

The first county election held in this county was on April 1, 1850; 377 votes were cast in the county. The officers chosen were: Judge, Agustin Olvera; Clerk, Benjamin Davis Wil- son; Attorney, Benjamin Hayes; Surveyor, J. R. Conway; Treasurer, Martin Garfias; As- sessor, Antonio F. Coronel; Recorder, Ygnacio del Valle; Sheriff, George T. Burrill; Coroner, Charles D. Cullen, who failed to qualify, so that A. P. Hodges was appointed in his stead. Jon athan R. Scott, who had been a prominent law- yer in Missouri, and who was in the front legal rank in Los Angeles, was the first justice of the peace, taking the position in order to further the county organization; he soon left the office, and was succeeded by J. S. Mallard.

The first drug store was put up in 1850, by Dr. Osborne, who came to California in 1847 with Stevenson's regiment; the second was that of Downey & McFarland, in 1851.

The first daguerreotypes were made by Dr. Osborne and Moses Searles, August 9, 1851. In this year the first political procession (Pierce) was organized by Nordholt, Leck and Goller, three German citizens. They had transparen- cies and the padre's little brass cannon, of his- toric record: in attempting to fire the gun, "George the baker " was badly burned.

The first barber was in 1852, an ex-slave, named Peter Biggs. He had been sold to an officer at Fort Leavenworth, and, left on Califor- nia territory at the close of the war, his free- dom was necessarily recognized.

Los Angeles County was the first in the State to enjoy two competing transcontinental rail- roads, a pleasure in which it still has a profit- able monopoly to the exclusion of the rest of the State. Railroad surveys were early made, dat- ing from 1853, when Lieutenant Williamson, under the military escort of Lieutenant (now ex-Governor) Stoneman made one; but the first railroad did not come until 1869. The Southern Pacific came in 1887, and the Santa Fé system in 1885.

In 1861 a bill was introduced into the Senate of the California Legislature authorizing the

board of supervisors of Los Angeles County to subscribe $150,000 toward the construction of a railroad between Los Angeles and San Pedro, and two years later an act for the construction of the road passed both houses; still no practi- cal measures were taken save the holding of a railroad meeting in 1864, and as nothing came of this it could not be deemed very practical. The Los Angeles News of February 27, 1866, notes that two remonstrances were then in cir- culation in the county against railroad bills in- troduced into the Legislature by the Hon. Phineas Banning. In the session of 1867-'68 the bill passed both houses, and the movement then became practical. On March 4, 1868, John G. Downey, Dr. J. S. Griffin and John King, as directors of the Los Angeles & San Pedro Railroad, filed a petition with the board of supervisors, asking the board to call an elec- tion upon the question of authorizing the county to subscribe $150,000 to the capital stock of the company. This and a subsequent petition were both granted, and when the election was held it resulted as follows: In the city, for the rail- road, 297; against it, 245. The vote of both city and county was, for the road, 700; against it, 672,-a bare majority of twenty-eight for the road. Ground was broken at Wilmington, September 19, 1868, and the last rail was laid in Los Angeles, October 26, 1869. The board of directors of the road were Phineas Banning, O. W. Childs, John G. Downey, B. D. Wilson, John S. Griffin, Matthew Kellar. E. E. Hewitt, then editor of the Wilmington Journal, was elected superintendent. The iron rails were shipped from England. The good effects of the road were felt at once, as appears from the fol- lowing paragraph from the News of September 22, 1868: "Under the influence of a certain prospect of a railroad from this city to the sea- coast, thereby making it a seaport city, the price of real estate has advanced very ma- terially." This was three months after the ground had been broken. Immediately after the election on March 27, the News had said, prophetically: "Railroad connection with the

741

HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

seacoast will, in a few years, extend itself to a connection with the Southern Pacific & Atlantic Railroad, placing us upon the great transcon- tinental thoroughfare, and bringing among us the surplus population and capital of the East- ern States, and developing by their science and energy our varied resources."

The railroad campaign of 1868 was bnt tame in comparison with that which followed in 1872; and, strange to say, some of the very parties who were not only convinced of the benefits of the short line of twenty-three miles, but materially helped by it, were among the most active opponents of the building of the transcontinental road. On April 4, 1870, the Legislature passed an act anthorizing the dif- ferent connties of the State, through their re- spective boards of supervisors, to aid in the construction of railroads in those counties which might elect to do so, authorizing the donation for railroad building of five per cent. of the total assessment. During this year and 1871 and 1872 this question entered strongly into the movements of the political parties and their issues.

The Southern Pacific, just incorporated, was building its line up the San Joaquin valley, and it was a question whether it would come direct to Los Angeles on its march overland. Its line through the Tehachepi Pass was known, but from there two diverging lines had been sur- veyed: one south ward through the Soledad Pass, with heavy grades and through costly tunnels to Los Angeles, the other over an almost level plain to the Needles, along the thirty-fifth paral- lel. It did seem inconsistent that Los Angeles, then but an "adobe town," should want the company to pay all the great expense of build- ing and equipping the road to this point, that should afterward share in the profits. The Los Angeles delegation in the Legislature realized the danger to their section, whose development might be delayed for years by mismanagement at this juncture. The two important matters for their adjustment were: to have Los Angeles County exempt from the repeal of the subsidy

law, and afterwards as private citizens, with the best interests of their community at heart, to secure the benefits of such exemption. Subse- quent events proved that, had the delegation been less friendly to the railroad, Los Angeles might possibly have been withont one until the present time. However, the necessary measures were taken, and satisfactory terins were made with the Southern Pacific. Committees were appointed and ordinances were drawn up for the city and county, being passed by the council and the board of supervisors, which empowered the county to donate its bonds in aid of the construction of a railroad within its borders, to an amount not to exceed five per cent. npon the total of the last assessment, which was $10,- 700,000 for 1872, on which five per cent. was $355,000. From this sum was to be deducted the $150,000 before issued in county bonds to the Los Angeles & San Pedro Railroad, leaving $385,000 in bonds given by the county. For this sum the Southern Pacific agreed to build fifty miles of its main trunk line through the connty, and a branch line to Anaheim; and the county also agreed to sell to the Southern Pa- cific its stock in the other line. On September 7 the supervisors passed an ordinance asking for a subsidy as large as that asked for the Southern Pacific, for the Los Angeles & San Diego Company, which claimed that their ronte was the most practical one to Anaheim, and which promised to build an intersection with the Texas Pacific Railroad, then managed by the famous "Tom " Scott. Although this was during the memorable Presidential campaign of Grant and Greeley, so absorbing was the railroad question in Los Angeles that the local issue assumed greater importance than the national one, and the railroads were the subject most discussed by the people. The campaign was one of the hottest ever known here. The elec- tion, which was held November 5, 1872, re- sulted as follows: For the Southern Pacific subsidy, 1,896 votes; against the same, 724. For the San Diego road, ninety-nine; against the same, twenty-nine; that there be no road at

742

HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

all, twenty-six. The Southern Pacific had a clear majority over all of 1,018.

The city donated sixty acres of land for depot purposes. Work was begun at the ini- tial point in the city, and continued east to Spadra, and north to San Fernando, to which points the first trains were run April 4, 1874. Work on the Anaheim branch was begun in the winter of 1873-'74, and the first train ran into Anaheim, January 7, 1875. In July, 1875, a gang of 1,500 men began work on both ends of the San Fernando tunnel, which was completed in September, 1876. It is 6,940 feet long, and cost originally $2,500,000. It is twenty-seven miles from Los Angeles. The golden spike-the last in the road connecting Los Angeles with San Francisco-was driven September 8, 1877, in the Soledad cañon. The mayors of San Francisco and Los Angeles were present, with the officials of the company, and a great number of spectators from both places. The festivities were closed by a ball and ban- quet at Los Angeles that evening.

In 1875 Hon. John P. Jones built the Los Angeles & Independence Railroad, from Los Angeles to Santa Monica, whose length is about eighteen miles. Its cost was about $375,- 000. It was subsequently transferred to the Southern Pacific.

By virtue of a contract with the Southern Pacific, the Santa Fé ran its trains into Los Angeles city from Colton, over the track of the other line, beginning November 29, 1885, and continuing until the completion of its own track from San Bernardino. This road was built in March and April, 1887, from San Ber- uardino along the foothills to a junction with the Los Angeles & San Gabriel Valley Railroad at the San Gabriel river. Regular trains began running on this road on June 1 of that year. It is owned by the California Central, a local company. Branch roads of this systemn were built in 1888 to Ballona Harbor and Redondo Beach, and also to Orange, connecting with another branch running from San Bernardino to San Diego.

In 1884, was commenced the construction of the Los Angeles & San Gabriel Valley Rail- road, by a corporation headed by Hon. J. F. Crank, of Pasadena. Its completiou to Pasa- dena was celebrated by an excursion, Septem- ber 17, 1885. In 1887 it was extended to the San Gabriel river, and the same year it was transferred to the Santa Fé system.

In 1889 the Los Angeles & Pacific Railway was completed to Santa Monica. Its chief pro- mnoters were M. L. Wicks and R. C. Shaw. It runs from the northwest part of the city towards the Cahuenga pass, and thence along the Santa Monica monntains to the city of that name. It is standard gauge.

The first locomotive built in Los Angeles was put up at the Baker Iron Works in 1889, for the Los Angeles & Pacific Railroad. It was designed by Fred. L. Baker, and it was named the " Providencia." It weighed fifteen tons.

The first bricks were made in 1852, by Captain Jesse D. Hunter. From the first kiln was built the house at the corner of Main and Third streets; from the second, burned in 185 3 the new jail.

The first English-speaking school in Los Angeles was taught by Rev. Dr. Hicks in 1850.

The first American child native of Los An- geles was John Greggs Nichols, born April 15, 1851.

The first newspaper, called the Los Angeles Star, was established in May, 1851.

On November 12, some unknown assassins made an unsuccessful attempt to murder Judge Benjamin Hayes in the door of his office on Main street.

On August 16, 1852, the United States Land Commission met at Los Angeles to settle private land claims.

In this year " spirit rappings " cansed much excitement at San Gabriel.

In 1863 Henry Hancock made the first sur- vey of the city, when the thirty-five-acre lots were surveyed and donated to actual settlers.

In 1853, Lieutenant Williamson briefly sur-

743

HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

veyed Southern California for a railroad route, under the military escort of Lieutenant (now General and ex-Governor) Stoneman. .

In 1853, the town contained three dry goods stores.

From 1850 to 1853, the Indian tribes of the Molave desert gave much trouble by stealing live-stock and murdering ranchers.

The rising of Antonio Garra, chief of Agua Caliente, in the fall of 1851, spread through Los Angeles fears of a general insurrection from Tulare to San Diego. Regulars and volunteers were accordingly mustered to guard against the danger, and when this soon passed away these organizations still existed. The regulars and San Diego volunteers were under Captain George Fitzgerald. The Los Angeles volun- teers were commanded by General J. H. Bean; Myron Norton, Colonel and chief of staff, S. Bolivar Cox and B. S. Eaton, corporals; Hon. A. C. Rolfe, William Nordholt and many who are dead, were in this service. The exposed position of this region for a long time there- after, in the Kern river and Mohave wars, and other troubles, kept officers of the United States army here and not seldom in active service. Among these gentlemen who possessed the regard of the people were: Colonel B. Beall, Majors Edward H. Fitzgerald and George H. Blake, Captains Davidson and Lovell, and Win- field Scott Hancock.

In the spring of 1850 the resident population of the city scarcely exceeded 2,500, which had increased in January, 1853, to about 3,000, in- elnding 300 from the United States, and among these a large proportion of families. On those days of disorder, the peaceful slumber of these citizens were guarded by the voluntary police of 100 men, under Dr. A. W. Hope, as chief. Among the lieutenants and privates were, in July, 1851, Messrs. Alexander, Olvera, S. C. Foster, Ogier, Brent, Joseph Yancey, Wheeler, J. G. Downey, Nichols, F. L. Guirado, Kellar, Hayes, and Juan Sepulveda. Later on, the streets were often enlivened by the martial tread of the inilitary companies required fro.n time to time.

In February, 1854, Samuel C. Foy started his saddlery-the first to make any kind of harness.

The first hospital, "The Los Angeles Infirm- ary for the Sick," was opened May 31, 1858, at the house of Don Cristobal Aguilar, by the Sis- ters of Charity. These ladies had come to Los Angeles in 1855, from their mother-house at St. Joseph's, Emmetsburg, Maryland; they sub- sequently erected in the upper part of the city an extensive hospital of brick, with surround- ding garden and orchard.

In 1854, Los Angeles boasted of 4,000 in- habitants. In that year, the first Masonic lodge received its eharter, and also the first hive of bees was received, it having been pur- chased by O. W. Childs, for $150, in San Fran- cisco. During this year, a tannery was opened; an Odd Fellows lodge was organized, and bull fighting was legally prohibited.

During 1854 there was no police force, and the average number of violent deaths in the city was not less than one a day. Although mostly of low-class Mexicans and Indians many murders occurred of persons in the higher walks of life. In August the supervisors ap- propriated $1,000 for the opening of a wagon- road over the mountains between the San Fernando Mission and the San Francisco Raneho. The 22nd of February, 1855, was celebrated by the City Guards, Captain W. W. Twist, and their first anniversary ball was given in May. Ringgold's Light Artillery was organized on June 7, of that year. The Los Angeles Rangers was an older body; the Legis- lature of 1854 had appropriated $4,000 for their equipment. They celebrated their first anni- versary on August 6, of that year. They had always proved efficient. In March, 1855, there was great excitement over the Kern river mines, for which destination the steamers from San Francisco brought many passengers. In April, Alexander Banning and W. T. B. San- ford sent ont fifteen ten-mule teams, with 60,000 pounds of assorted merchandise for Salt Lake. In this year Abel Stearns and John R. Scott

744

HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

built a brick flouring-mill. Several festival days were celebrated by public demonstrations.

Abel Stearns and J. R. Scott built the first flouring mill in 1855.

In 1856 vigilance committees were formed at Los Angeles and San Gabriel.

In 1856, took place the first legalized hang- ing.

The year 1857 witnessed the erection of some improved buildings, and the founding of the Anaheim colony. Sheriff Barton and his party were murdered by Flores and his band near Santa Ana.

In March, 1857, a rifle company was formed, under Captain Twist; and in May the French infantry corps, 105 strong, Captain C. A. Faralle.

The news of the massacre at Mountain Mead- ows in September caused much excitement in Los Angeles, where a mass meeting was called to investigate the facts, and resolutions were passed condemning the Mormons. Another public meeting in December protested against the sale of arms to the Mormons, and censured Los Angeles merchants for shipping arms and ammunition to Salt Lake.

On February 25, 1858, a fire originating on Los Angeles street destroyed $30,000 to $50,000 worth of property. In March were begun regular terms of the United States Dis- triet Court. In June the Surveyor-General of California made a demand on the county re- corder for all public records of Los Angeles County pertaining to its history under Spanish and Mexican rnle. There was felt some local indignation that the official was obliged to accede to the demand, and remit the records to San Francisco. On October 7, salutes of can- non were fired to celebrate the arrival of the pioneer scini-weekly overland stage, twenty days out from the Missouri river. This year wit- nessed a rise in real estate, the arrival of several bodies of American soldiery, bound for inland points, and various depredations and murders committed by neighboring tribes of Indians. The number of voters in the city was now 600.

In 1859 was issned the first United States patent to a citizen of Los Angeles, it being to Don Manuel Dominguez for the San Pedro Rancho.

In February, 1859, the contract for the con- struction of a city hall and market-house was let to Jolin Temple for $30,000. Work was begun in March and finished in September on the edifice still known as "the court-house." The City Council borrowed $200,000 for mak- ing improvements. In this year were erected thirty-one brick buildings, including the Arcadia block, and two stories of the Temple block. Trade with Utah was active this year, one monthı witnessing the departure of sixty wagons for Salt Lake. On April 19 a contract was let for the construction of a telegraph line between Los Angeles and San José. There were now eleven attorneys and seven physicians resident in the city. The voting population was 1,020. This was a year of " hard times." In 1860 there was considerable emigration from this county to Texas, owing to the difficulty which white laborers experienced in procuring work, as most of the vineyardists employed Indians and Chinamen. In July, General Frémont, visiting Los Angeles, was greeted with a salute of fifteen guns. On October 8, the first tele- graph message to Los Angeles was received by the mayor, Henry Mellns. In November the city was visited by Lady Franklin, widow of Sir John Franklin.

In 1860 the population was 4,500; and the first telegraph line was constructed.

On Christmas eve, 1861, began a rain which lasted withont intermission till Jannary 17, 1862, on which day, at three o'clock P. M., fell tremendous torrents of water, accompanied by heavy thunder and lightning. At Los Angeles, comparatively little damage was done by this flood; the city dam was broken, some adobe honses fell, and travel was impeded, besides the inconvenience occasioned by the delay of the arrival of the " Brother Jonathan " at San Pedro. At El Monte the river made a new channel, manacing the town of Lexington; but the dan-

745

HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

ger was averted by the energy of the inhabi- tants. On the Santa Ana, thirty miles above Anaheim, the flood destroyed the thriving new Mexican settlement of Agna Mansa (Gentle Water). There was no loss of life, but every sign of former culture was obliterated by the waste of sand which the waters spread over the whole valley, and 500 souls were turned out homeless on the surrounding hills. The rains extended to the Mohave and San Diego rivers.

In May, 1861, a grand Union demonstration took place here. Phineas Banning presented a national banner to the Union Club on behalf of the citizens, and a company of volunteers was raised, to form a part of the 5,000 ordered from California. In October the regular troops were concentrated at San Pedro to embark for the East on a Panama steamer. A subscription of $100 per month was raised by the citizens, to receive from the East daily war dispatches.

In January, 1862, three steamers at one time were unloading troops at San Pedro, where at one time were encamped 4,000 men. There were also other encampments in the county. In November, small-pox broke out among the Los Angeles Indians, and spread rapidly. There was also an epidemic of measles.

During the first months of 1863, the sınall- pox raged to such an extent among the Indians as to carry off a majority of them in the city, besides a great number in other portions of the county. Many Mexicans, chiefly of the lower order, perished also, before the epidemic sub- sided, " for want of further material to work upon." July 4 was not celebrated in the city this year, but at Camp Ballona harbor. On July 31 a detachment of troops from Drum barracks encamped in the city to afford pro- tection to the Unionists. In September oc- cnrred a great exodus of miners to the Colorado river, many prospectors from the upper country passing through Los Angeles to the mines at La Paz. On November 9, J. J. Warner, who had been appointed Deputy Provost Marshal for Los Angeles began the enrollment prepara- tory to the draft. On December 25, Captain

B. R. West issned from Drum barracks an order notifying all persons on Catalina Island to leave before February 1, 1864. Companies of soldiers were stationed in Los Angeles all this year to preserve the peace. The Utalı trade continued good, notwithstanding the war.

In 1864 there was another small-pox epidemic. In February reports of fresh strikes in the Inines occasioned another rush of miners to the Colorado. In May J. F. Bilderbeck was ar- rested for disloyalty, in consequence of strong language he had used in speaking of the Fort Pillow massacre. The Fourth of July was not celebrated this year. In September the troops were withdrawn from Catalina Island, and about the same time Fort Tejon was abandoned. Union rallies and processions were held in Oc- tober and November. Business was dull, and times exceedingly hard, this year.

In 1865 many large Mexican land grants were subdivided. On April 19 there was a large public funeral procession in respect to the death of President Lincoln. Business was sus- pended, and all parties joined in observing the day. The Fourth of July was enthusiastically celebrated this year. There was much sporadic disease during the summer. Business prospects were better, and fine orchards were planted, and vineyards enlarged and improved in every direction.

In 1866 the Salt Lake trade became extensive, reaching as far as Bannock, Idaho, 450 miles beyond Salt Lake, or over 1,200 miles from Los Angeles. Goods were shipped with teams over- land all the way to Helena, Montana, a distance of about 1,400 miles.

On June 13, 1867, a fire on Los Angeles street destroyed $64,000 worth of property. On July 1 a brass band was organized. The Fourth was not celebrated here this year On August 10-11, the Mexican citizens held a great celebration of the anniversary of the conclusion of the Mexican war, and of the surrender of the city of Mexico into the hands of the Lil- erals. Trade was exceedingly brisk this year with Utah, Montana, and Arizona. Of the

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

Los Angeles of this time, Major Ben. C. Tru- man gives the following unflattering picture: "Crooked, unpaved streets; land lean; adobe houses with asphaltom roofs; with here and there an indolent native hugging himself in- side a blanket, or burying his head in the in- side of a watermelon,-were then the notable features of this quondam Mexican town."

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Author: Lewis Publishing Company Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : The Lewis Publishing Company Number of Pages: 1038

Author: Lewis Publishing Company
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1038