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 116

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 116
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 116
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 116
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 116

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).

In 1867 were established gas-works and a castor-oil mill. In 1868, the Los Angeles City Water Company obtained a franchise; and the first railroad was built, it being twenty-two miles long, and nniting the city with the lar- bor at San Pedro. The same year, the first fire company was organized, and entered upon its duties at once.

In 1867 the city was first lighted with gas; and this year also. Dr. Griffin and IIon. B. D. Wilson, by means of a ditch costing some $15,- 000, brought the water of the Arroyo Seco out upon the lands of the San Pasqual Rancho.

On January 20, 1868, D. Marchessault, mayor of the city, committed suicide by shoot- ing, whilst in his office. This year the third survey of the city was made by George Hassen; the Los Angeles & San Pedro Railroad was in- corporated, the county owning the stock; work was begun by the Canal & Reservoir Com- pany upon a canal and reservoir, which long supplied the Union Ice Works; the City Water Company was organized; the first bank was or- ganized by Alvinza Hayward and John G. Downey, under the firmn name of Hayward & Co., with a capital of $100,000; and, later in the year, was organized the banking-house of Hellman, Temple & Co. The new Masonic Hall was dedicated September 29. A severe form of typho-malarial fever ravaged the city in the autumn. From this year the real growth of the city may be dated. Writing in 1876, Benjamin Hays describes it as follows: "At this time, the fall of 1868, there was no three- story building in the town, while the only two- story business houses were the old Lafayette, the older portion of the Bella Union, with the stores of Barrows and Childs on Los Angeles

street, Stearns' block, Bell's block, a portion of the Lanfranco building, the older portion of the United States Hotel, Allen's corner, the court- house, with the part of Temple block facing it, and a two-story adobe where Temple's bank now stands. The portion of Downey block facing tow- ard the Temple bank had a few one-story adobe rooms, with a wide gateway in the middle open- ing into a corral. This gateway had connected with it somewhat of a tragic history, as upon the cross-bar above, five desperados were hanged at one time by the Vigilance Committee. The Round-house (an old landmark on Main street; Y. H. A.) was then upon the outskirts of the town. Captain Clark's house was fairly in the country, but little of the property around being even fenced in. The hills above town and across the river, now dotted with houses, were then bleak and bare. East Los Angeles had not yet even been dreamed of."

In 1869 there was a great demand for houses and an unprecedented advance in real estate; but, although building and improvements were going on with vigor and rapidity, a financial de- pression still existed. In the early part of the year, sınall-pox raged in the Mexican quarter. On October 24, the French Benevolent Society, with much ceremony, laid the corner-stone of their proposed hospital. On October 26, an ex- cursion of two trains carried 1,500 people free over the newly completed road to Wilmington.

In February, 1870, there was a veritable epi- demic of fires, which destroyed many stores and other buildings. The varions fraternal organizations were now celebrating their respect- ive festivals with considerable regularity, and Inany improvements were talked of, including street railways. There was a large amount of freighting to the Owens river country. There were now circulated petitions and protests, memorializing the Legislature on the question of the division of Los Angeles County on the line of the San Gabriel river, to create the new county of Anaheim on the east side. The mayor and the town council were arrested this year, owing to exciting rumors that they had issued

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

scrip unlawfully; but the rumors proved un- founded. To facilitate the compilation of a di- rectory, the buildings in the business portion of the city were ordered to be numbered. Liquor was regularly retailed at this time at 110 differ- ent places in the city, and for months drunken- ness and shooting were rampant, particularly among the Indians of the town. " Nigger al- ley," now Upper Los Angeles street, was one of the vilest resorts imaginable. .

In March, 1871, an ice machine was put in operation, its product retailing at four cents per pound. In May, tri-weekly mails were estah- lished between Los Angeles and San Bernardino.

The Downey block was erected this year. In October occurred the great Chinese massacre.

On October 31, was inaugurated the fair of of the Southern District Agricultural Society, which continned to hold these fairs with great snecess for several years after.

August 5, 1872, was celebrated by the Chinese all over the world as the day of lamentation for their countrymen who were lynched in Los An- geles the preceding year. Four priests came from San Francisco to conduct the public cere- monies held at Los Angeles. On October 26 was held the last bull-fight at Los Angeles.

On October 29 a fire, originating in the ex- plosion of a coal-oil lamp, destroyed Packard & Company's distillery on the east bank of the river, occasioning a loss of about $60,000.

The first woolen-inill was established in 1872; and the next year the public library was founded.

In 1874 the first fruit-drying establishment was erected, it being on an extensive scale. In 1875 a broom factory and an artificial stone works began operations. In the spring of this year the " Forest Grove Association " planted the first extensive tract of eucalyptus or blue- gum for timber.

In 1874 the Spring and Sixth street horse railroad (the first here) was completed. The Sun- day law began to be enforced. It was estimated that at least $300,000 was expended in the erec- tion of business houses this year. In September the Eagle flonring-mills, which had cost some

$40,000 eight or nine years before, were destroyed by fire. The population of the city was now estimated at 11,000.

In 1875 were erected the Roman Catholic cathedral and many other buildings, amounting in total value to $260,000. Considerable property was destroyed by fires. In December a movement was on foot among the merchants to have the steamers of Goodall, Nelson & Per- kins stop at Santa Monica. Also an effort was made by the citizens to have work resumed on the Los Angeles & Independence Railroad, building fromn Los Angeles by way af Cajon pass to Independence. The population was now estimated at 11,000.

During 1876 the city was still rapidly im- proving. In June anti-Chinese meetings were the order of the day. In this the Centennial year, the Fourth of July was celebrated with incomparably more pomp and noise than usual. This was the greatest celebration of American Independence ever held in the city. Phineas Banning was the president of the day, James J. Ayers, poet, and James G. Eastinan, orator. General Andres Pico and Mannel Requena died this year. December 28 the Eagle Mills were burned a second time.

On August 4, 1877. Hon. Benjamin Hayes, formerly Judge of the district, died. He had lived in Los Angeles County twenty-seven years, and had contributed invaluable matter to its his- · torical records, both by his own writings fromn reminiscences, and by his habit of carefully preserving all historical scraps, data and clip- pings.

In January, 1878, a fight between squatters and natives at the Ranchito resulted in the kill- ing of two Mexicans. In February the I. O. O. F. hall was dedicated. There also was built the grand pavilion of the Southern California Horticultural Society, the first fair in which was held in October of this year. Building was now going on with more animation than ever before. An area of 18,000 acres of land in the San Fernando valley was burned over in September. In this month a large sum was

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raised by the Angeleños for the yellow-fever sufferers of Memphis.

In 1879 defalcations were found in the ac- counts of two city treasurers, Mellns and Bnt- ler; and of tax collector Carrillo. The defi. ciencies amounted to over $17,000. This year was marked by several notable aniversary cele- brations, and by extensive fires in the mountain forests. Vigorons measures were adopted for the renovation of Chinatown. In this year E. J. C. Kewen, a notable citizen, soldier, orator and lawyer, died.

During 1880 General B. F. Butler, of Massa- chusetts, visited Los Angeles. In this year occurred in the county jail a notable suicide, that of Samuel R. Koyle, an old defaulting tax collector from Georgia, who was arrested here, shooting himself while he was held pending the arrival of the requisition papers.

September 5, 1881, was the centennial anni- versary of the founding of the city of Los An- geles. It was celebrated with a grand proces- sion which required twenty minutes to pass a given point. Business generally was suspended, and the people gave themselves over to a holiday. Main street was decorated with fes- toons bearing the dates 1781 -- 1881. General George Stoneman, afterward Governor of Cal- ifornia, was grand marshal of the day. A prom- inent feature of the procession was an old-time Mexican cart, drawn by oxen, and containing two Mexican women, one aged 103, and the other 117 years. In this month was held in the Temple street pavilion, the horticultural fair, with a very large attendance. On the 27th the obsequies of the late President Garfield were observed by a large procession and literary ex- ercises.

On January 10, 1882, was burned the Espe- ranza block, opposite the court-house, on Main street, with the store it contained, a total loss of $75,000. This year was begun the construction of the Nadean block, the first four-story build- ing in the city; also the Normal School build- ing. The Magnetic Observatory of the United States was now removed here from Madison,

Wisconsin. This spring there was a strong political agitation relative to the enforcement of the Sunday law, particularly as concerned the closing of saloons; this question almost mo- nopolized the courts, to the exclusion of other business, with great expense to the tax-payers. This item also figured in the political campaign of that year, resulting in the election of the Democratic candidates throughout the State, by an immense majority, and in the elimination of the Sunday-law from the statute. books, by the next Legislature.

lu this year was tried in the Superior Court of Los Angeles the remarkable case of Josiah V. Smith, for the murder of his son, prompted, he claimed, by a command from Heaven!

On January 20, 1883, ocenrred the terrible railroad accident of the Tehachepi pass, in which over twenty lost their lives. It was abont three o'clock in the morning, and very dark, when the passenger train bound for Los Angeles stopped at the station of Tehachepi, which is just west of the summit of the Sierra Nevada mountains. A very strong, cold wind was blowing down the mountain pass; the en- gine was detached for the purpose of making a necessary change; the conductor went into the office to make his report; and the brakeman left the train, to escort a passenger to the station. It is supposed that the brakes had been set insecurely, or not set at all. When the con- ductor came back to where the train should have been, the train was gone, and he saw two or three miles down the track a great light which proved to be the missing cars burning! It was supposed that the hard wind that usually pre- vails at Tehachepi pass had started the train down the heavy grade, and before the passengers had suspected that aught was wrong, they had attained a terrible velocity, and in rounding a enrve had leaped the track into a ravine, where, massed in a erushed heap, they had been ignited from the lamps and stove-fires. The surviving passengers crawled out of the debris, and rescued whom they could. Among those this saved was ex-Governor Downey, but his noble

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wife, who was of an old native family namned Guirado, was s> completely consumed that no identification of her remains was possible. The dead and wonnded were brought to Los Angeles, where a few of the twenty-two corpses were identified by relatives and friends, while the others were buried in Evergreen Cemetery.

I. July and August of this year Los Angeles was visited by numerous delegations of Knights Templar, en route to attend the triennial con- clave at San Francisco.

On Jannary 9, 1884, Charles Whitehead, editor of the Republican, a daily evening paper, was shot, while in his office, by T. S. Harris, the ex-foreman of the paper. Harris was con- victed and sentenced to imprisonment at San Quentin, but was pardoned by Governor Stone- man in less than a year. On February 18, after several days of heavy rain, the river rose rapidly, swept away a number of houses, drowned several people, and destroyed considerable property. On May 24, Mlle. Rhea, appearing in "The School for Scandal," dedicated the first theater or opera house in the city, which was built by O. W. Childs. This year was commenced the large and fine Sisters' Hospital on Beaudry Park Hill. Also, the city council built substantial bridges across the river at First and at Aliso streets. The presidential campaign was particularly lively in Los Angeles. Four parties, Republicans, Demo- crats, Prohibitionists, and Greenbackers, were in the field with full tickets, strongly organized. For the first time since the formation of the county in 1850, the Republicans were able to elect a majority of the officers. In December the municipal election was overwhelmingly Republican.

This year the city purchased from G. J. Griffith his fractional interest in the title to the water of the river, paying $50,000; now also, Ygnacio Sepulveda resigued his position as superior judge, and removed to the city of Mexico .- The population of the city this year was estimated at 31,000. The year 1885 had a notable necrological record: on March 8, Phineas Banning died in San Francisco, and on the 12th,

he was buried in the Los Angeles Rosedale Cemetery; on the 20th, were hanged two sen- tenced murderers, the first legal executions in many years in this county; on April 15, died Henry Stassforth, a well-known citizen; and on the 19th, Andres Briswalter, who left a very large estate, which caused considerable litigation. On June 5, died at the age of fifty-six, a noted pioneer, Dr. Vincent Gelcich; and on the 27th, Colonel J. F. Godfrey, a soldier and an attorney at law, aged forty-five years; on August 17, Daniel Mooney, a well-known character, was shot and killed near Santa Monica; on September 2, died, aged fitty-six, J. E. Hollenbeck, a noted pioneer and capitalist; and on the 18th, Colonel E. S. Blasdel died at Florence; on October 9, occurred the remarkable disappearance of Miss Lizzie Parker from the house of Mrs. Vantrees; and on the 13th, died Al F. Scheffelin, one of the discoverers of the famous Tombstone mine of Arizona. In this year occurred also a number of sensational criminal cases, including the suit of Louise C. Perkins against E. J. Baldwin for breach of promise, which came to trial in Febrn- ary, 1886, judgment being rendered for plaint- iff in the sum of $75,000. This was set aside as excessive, and the defendant finally compro- mised by paying the plaintiff $12,000. On April 21, ground was broken for the Second Street Cable Railway, whose cars began running in October. In the month of May Senator John Sherman, and in August, Sir Arthur Sullivan, of literary fame, visited Los Angeles. During the summer was built the first city hall on Second street. On September 16 an excursion celebrated the completion of the Los Angeles & San Gabriel Valley Railroad to Pasadena. On October 1, Charles E. Miles, who was im- mediately succeeded in office by Frank A. Gib- son, was arrested for embezzlement of $12,000 of the public funds; he was subsequently dis- charged froin custody on repaying the money in court.

The year 1886 opened with a strong advance in real estate, and the sales during the year amounted to $28,204,759. On January 19, the

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

river overflowed all that portion of the city lying between Wilmington street and the bluff on the east side, drowning a number of poople, and destroying a vast deal of property. So exten- sively were the levees washed away and the rail- roads washed out, that for abont a week the city was without railroad communication. On the day of the flood, Martin Aguirre saved the lives of twenty persons, mostly children, by going to them on horseback, having in one instance a narrow escape with his own life.

In September the Republican State Conven- tion was held in Los Angeles for the first time. At the county election the offices were divided nearly evenly between the Democrats and the Republicans.

In November, another murderer was ex- ecuted.

The year 1887 opened eventfully. Several large excursion trains arrived from the East. Ou January 14, Lorena, the daughter of Dr. T. C. Gale, was run over by a train on Alameda street, receiving injuries from which she died three days later. On the 14th, died Remi Nadeau, who built the Nadean block. On the 21st, George Robertson, arrested for arson, in- flieted upon himself sneh injuries as caused his death in a few hours. On the 23d, Samuel Keefer, a hotel man at Monrovia, committed suicide.

On the 29th President Cleveland signed the bill appropriating $150,000 for the erection of a Federal building in Los Angeles. The oil well, No. 6, at Puente, gave out on the 31st, the first flow of oil in the district. During this month was founded the town of Clear- water, on the lands of the co-operative colony, who had bought from the Cerritos rancho.

On February 4, passed the Legislature a bill providing for two superior judges, making a total of four. On the 3d had been laid the corner-stone of the Baptist College. On the 7th, A. W. Hutton and W. P. Gardner were appointed superior judges, and the same day a banquet was given at the Nadeau House, to Brigadier-General Nelson A. Miles, in honor of

his transfer of the headquarters of the Depart- ment of Arizona from that territory to this city. On the 14th, the barkentine St. Louis, and the ship Kennebec, 2,000 tons burden, were wrecked at San Pedro. This month the sale was announced of the Los Angeles & San Gabriel Railroad to the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fé Company. A grand excursion to Ballona marked the completion of the road to that place; the postoffice was removed from the Oxarart block to the Hellman building on Main, opposite Arcadia street.

On March 1, was opened the Woman's Home, on Fourth street, an enterprise partially self- supporting, and partially supported from the proceeds of an annual flower festival, held since 1885, for the benefit of self-sustaining women and girls. During this month the celebrated apostle of American phrenology, Professor O. S. Fowler, appeared in Los Angeles for the last time. Other noted visitors were Mon- seigneur Capel and Charles Dudley Warner. On the 26th it was discovered that E. Ham- inond, the county tax-collector, had absconded to British Columbia with $12,000 of the public money.

On April 1 was witnessed the rare spectacle of 500 men standing in line all night long on Court street, awaiting their turn to buy lots in the new town boom, the sale of which commenced the next morning at nine o'clock. Places in this line sold for as high as $150. The Real Estate Exchange, that ran about a year, was incorporated in this month. On the 12th, the annual flower festival was opened in Hazard's pavilion. Mrs. E. A. Cox was killed by the cars at the Downey street crossing. Hon. J. F. Crank and Herman Silver paid the city $10,000 cash for a double-track eable-road franchise, which was transferred to a Chicago syndicate two years later. The University Bank opened its doors on the 18th.

On May 2, Erskine M. Ross was appointed Judge of the new United States District Court of Southern California. On the 11th, Grettie Rozelle threw a cupful of vitriol in the

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

face of C. R. Petrie, a locomotive engineer, who finally recovered. The woman was acquitted, but her husband, who was not present at the commission of the crime, was sentenced to nine years in State prison. Dr. J. S. Baker, City Health Officer, died of heart disease on the 15th. The MeLaughlin steam dummy line of cars was completed from Second street to the Cahuenga valley on the 18th. During this mouth the National Opera Troupe of 300 peo- ple performed at the pavilion.

On June 1, Santa Fé trains began running overland to San Bernardino. On the 6th, ex- Mayor E. F. Spence donated $50,000 for the establishment of an astronomical observatory on Wilson's Peak. Two brothers, named Hutch- inson, killed in Tejunga Cañon a grizzly bear cnb weighing 700 pounds.

In July, Judge W. A. Cheney, of the Supe- rior Conrt, sustained the prohibition ordinance of Pasadena city. Catalina Island was sold by the Lick estate to George R. Shatto.

In the earlier half of Angust two wife- murders were committed in the city. The corner-stone of the new Turnverein Hall was laid on the 14th. The Downey street depot was burned on the 24th. The old Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church South was burned on the 29th.

On the night of October 7 a barn near Compton was burned, and the next day there were found in the ashes the charred remains of a human being, the teeth of which were identified as those of Dr. Charles N. Harlan. The crime was charged upon Miss Hattie Wolf- steen, with whom Harlan had been connected, and she was tried, but was acquitted. On the 21st, the Chinese residents celebrated their tri- ennial festival with a great programme, includ- ing a magnificent street parade. Cardinal Gib- bons, of the Roman Catholic Church, visited the city on the 24th. The corner-stone of the Los Angeles College was laid ou the 26th. The Santa Fé depot was burned on the 28th, the burning with it of an oil train preventing its extinguishinent. The division of water oc-

casioned trouble 'between the Azusa and Covina neighborhoods in this month. Both parties sent armed forces into the San Gabriel eañon, but the interposition of the courts averted serious trouble.

November, 1, 1897, the California Bank opened. On the 21st the first vestibuled train arrived from Boston. This month there was a coal famine, which lasted several weeks. Gen- eral Franklin, of the Soldiers' Home Commis- sion, examined the proposed sites for a home hereabonts, and selected the present place near Santa Monica. The Republicans and the Dem - ocrats agreed upon a joint ticket of fifteen free- holders to draft a new city charter.

December 18, 1887, witnessed many casual- ties; on the 3d there were ninety-eight horses consumed in the livery stable of Nicolas Covarr- ubias, destroyed by fire; the 14th, a high wind blew down a hotel at La Cañada, killing one woman, and seriously injuring various other persons; the large hotel at North Cucamonga, was totally demolished; the upper story of & building at Ontario was blown off; the new hotel at Lordsburg, in process of construction, was destroyed, at a loss of $20,000; and many buildings were blown down in Los Angeles and Pasadena. This wind blew from the east, and its highest velocity in Los Angeles was forty. six miles per hour.

In January, 1888, a destructive fire was in Los Angeles; ground was broken for the new city hall on Fort street; Los Angeles street was opened from Arcadia to Alameda streets; and Mr. and Mrs. Hitchcock were murdered at Garden Grove, by a German named Anschlag, who was tried, convicted and sentenced to be hung in Los Angeles.

In February, 1888, Booth and Barrett ap- peared at the Opera House.

In March, 1888, a destructive fire occurred, and in the same month N. R. Vail, of Los An- geles, was drowned at Redondo Beach.

In May the Democratic State Convention was held in Los Angeles; the proposed new charter was defeated.

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

In Angust the coast line of the Santa Fé system opened between Los Angeles and San Diego.

In September the Sovereign Grand Lodge of the World, I. O. O. F., met at Los Angeles. The Postoffice was removed from Main street to Fort. between Sixth and Seventh.

On October 20 was adopted a new charter which increased the city wards from five to nine, providing for a salaried councilman from each ward. This charter had been framed by a non- partisan board of freeholders, and it was con- firmed by the Legislature. The presidential campaign was now very active, both political parties holding numberless meetings, proces- sions, etc.

On November 5 was held the National elec- tion. This month Brigadier General Miles was transferred to San Francisco, being succeded in the Department of Arizona in Los Angeles by General B. H. Grierson.

In December, at the municipal election, the Democrats elected the mayor and a majority of the conseil. As a result of the introduction of a bill in Congress by General William Van- dever, representative from the Sixth Congress- ional District, looking to a division of the State, a large mass meeting was held in Los Angeles, which passed resolutions favoring the creation of the State of "South California," and an ex- tensive committee was elected to take charge of the campaign on that question.

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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