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 120

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 120
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 120
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 120
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 120

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).

* Since the above was put in type, it has been semi- officially announced that the Federal census of 1890 gives the city about 50,000 population.

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

up a great additional extent of tributary terri- tory. Manufacturing has already been largely stimulated by the cheapening of fuel; and when the petroleum pipe lines now in course of construction are completed, a large increase in this line of business is sure to ensne. It should be mentioned as a fact pertaining to the wholesale trade that the total receipts at the custom house at the port of Los Angeles (San Pedro) for the fiscal year ending July 1, 1888, were $139,330.79. The retail trade of the city is also very large, and it is steadily in- creasing. The business of raising and peddling vegetables is largely pursued by Chinese in the vicinity of the city. Within the city limits there are hundreds of this race engaged in the laundry business, the laundries running every day in the year, save on certain periodical fes- tival days, occurring at long intervals. Their butchers deal principally in pork, which is the Chinaman's chief mneat. The merchants deal in Chinese specialties, and also do a private banking business. The restaurants of the Chinese are little patronized by whites. The opium joint is a typical Chinese institution.

Los Angeles is now one of the most perfectly paved cities in the United States. Within the last three years most of the business streets and many, nearly all the fine residence streets, have been paved with asphaltuin rock, elastic, smooth, and durable. The sidewalks are of artificial stone, beautifully and substantially laid.

The new court house, to cost over $1,000,- 000, is in process of construction. The new city hall building, lately completed, is an im- posing and artistic structure.

The amount of business done by Wells, Fargo & Company's express affords some indi- cation of the growth and activity of Los An- geles. The books of the company show a steady increase from 1885 to and ineluding 1888. During 1888 the company employed, in the city, forty-four men; used eleven wagons in the daily delivery; and handled 6,833,011 pounds of freight.

The city and the surrounding towns in the county are well provided with telegraph and telephone lines. The Telephone Exchange of Los Angeles was organized in 1882, with seven subscribers, and the patronage las steadily increased until there are now 1,050 telephones in nse in the city, and some 200 more in the smaller towns of the county, every one of which is connected with the city by telephone. The Western Union Telegraph Company reports a great extension of its wires, and claims that the telegraphic facilities at Los Angeles are superior to those of any other city of its size in the United States.

On December 31, 1882, the city was lighted for the first time with that crowning glory of modern inventions, the electric light. The en- terprise had met with great opposition, not only from the gas companies, but from many people who predicted all manner of detriments and dangers to result from its nse. But finally all opposition was overcome, and on New Year's eve the raidiance from seven masts bathed the city in the electric glory. Los Angeles is now lighted wholly by this system, the lights being of that sort known as Brush lights, being placed on masts situated at snch distances apart as may be determined by the city council, ranging from 2,500 teet to over a mile apart. The eity has two circuits, which contain thirty-one miles of wire. On these inast circuits are fifteen masts 150 feet high, each with lamps comprising 9,000 candle power. The other masts, with these, aggre- gate 216,000 candle power, in the city's municipally paid lighting. There are three other circuits for private lamps. The first runs till midnight, for hotels, saloons, restau- rants, etc. Two others, known as " merchant " circuits, run till 9 o'clock on week days, except Saturdays, when they are continued until 10:30 P. M. On these three circuits there are at present 175 lamps of 2,000 candle power each. The city pays $19,000 per annum for its light- ing, and the store lights costs $3.50 and $5 per week. Previous to the use of the present sys-

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

tem, but a small portion was lighted by gas, in the official area of 36 square miles in the city. To cover abont five-eighths of a mile square cost $9,000 per annum, as against the present cost of a little more than $20,000 for the illu- mination of nearly twenty square miles.

The headquarters of the city police are at the city hall; but there is a branch station, and also a small jail, in East Los Angeles. The force consists of seventy-four members, as follows: chief; captain of detectives; four detectives; captain of police; secretary of police; two police sergeants; ten mounted officers; fifty foot officers; two drivers of patrol wagon; a matron, and a police surgeon.

Prior to February 1, 1886, the fire depart- ment was composed of volunteers; since that date, it has been under pay. During 1888 about $70,000 was expended in the purchase of four new engines, hose and carts, and in the erection of new buildings. In 1886 there were required but two engines, one hook and ladder company, five liose carts, 3,200 feet of hose, and a force of thirty-two men. Each of the present engine honses is provided with a tele- phone, and also a fire alarm gong of the Rich- mond Fire Alarm System.

The Public Library Association of Los Angeles was organized in December, 1872, and the library was transferred to the city in April, 1878. It is supported by a levy not to exceed five cents on each $100 of all real and personal property in the city, and by quarterly dues of $1 from each subscribing member. The reading rooms supply twenty-seven daily papers; thirty-two weeklies; twenty-two month- lies; three quarterlies; there were 5,748 vol- umnes in the library on June 1, 1888; dnring the year 913 were added; the book loan for the year was 17,071. The library and free reading room are open from 9 A. M. to 9:30 P. M. daily, except Sundays, and from 1 P. M. to 6 r. M. on Sundays.

The city is only tolerably well provided with public parks at present. It lias the little old "Plaza " on North Main street, opposite the

old Roman Catholic church of Our Lady of the Angels; and the Sixth Street Park, which is a sinall but attractive enclosure, set with semi- tropical trees, plants, aud flowers. Diagonally across from this park is the building occupied as military headquarters for the Department of Arizona, surrounding which are extensive and beautiful grounds open to the public. Elysian Park is a large body of very hilly land, as yet wholly unimproved. East Los Angeles Park also is a park as yet only in prospect. In the western part of the city, near Eleventh street, is Westlake Park, of thirty-five acres, and on Boyle Heights in the Brooklyn traet, is another small space, called Prospect Park.

Los Angeles is by no means behind the age in the matter of cemeteries, of which there are five in the city. The Roman Catholic cemetery is beautifully located on Buena Vista street, on an elevation overlooking the old "Spanish- town,"-now becoming modernized very rapid- ly. The City Cemetery is on Castelar street, on the hill. The Hebrew burying ground is on Reservoir street, in the northeastern part of the city. All these three are old grave-yards, and, as they are near the central part of the city, they will probably be closed ere long. Chief among the new places of sepulture is the Evergreen Cemetery, on Aliso avenue. The Rosedale is on West Washington street. At this pantheon is the first crematory in the United States west of the Rocky mountains. It was built by the Los Angeles Crematory Society, under the supervision of an expert who came hither for that purpose. The first incineration, which took place in June, 1887, was of the body of the wife of Dr. O. B. Bird, a prominent physician of the city. Although the body had been regularly interred a few months previous, the cremation was a complete success, and this initiatory working of the new system here at- tracted much attention. H. Sinsabaugh, a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, is president of the Cremation Society, and Dr. William Le Moyne Wills, Professor of Anatomy in the Medical College of the Univer-

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

sity of Southern California, is secretary. Dr. Wills, who is a prominent surgeon, inherits his enthusiasın for cremation, his grandfather, Dr. F. Julius Le Moyne, having constructed at his own expense the first cremation furnace in the United States.

THE WATER SUPPLY.

One of the first concerns of the founders of Los Angeles city was of course to dig an irri- gating ditch. A temporary dam called the " Toma," was made of sand and willow poles across the river just north of what is now the Buena Vista street bridge, and the water was taken from the river. Though it was frequently washed ont by freshets, it was as often renewed, and thus kept up for many years. In 1781 the city dug a main irrigating ditch, which has ever since been known as the Zanja Madre, and lies along the eastern side of the Sonoratown Bluff. Laterals were extended from this.

Thenceforward, until a modern period, various contracts were let for irrigating ditches and water supply, some of which were fulfilled, some partially carried out and some not executed at all. We have not space here to enumerate the particulars. As is usnal in municipal mat- ters, especially in a mongrel population, much of these works was unless or nearly so. At present, however, Los Angeles is well supplied by good mountain water, both for irrigating purposes and domestic use.

SCHOOLS.

In 1838 the first primary school was estab- lished in Los Angeles. The teacher was Ensign Guadalupe Medina. After a term lasting five and a half months, Medina was called to the army. The attendance averaged 103 pupils, whose progress and proficiency in their studies was gratifying. The city had appropriated $500 for expenses, and had purchased the necessary furniture at San Gabriel. Shortly after this, Don Ygnacio Coronel, aided by his wife and daughter, Josefa, opened here a school which was very successful. The first proposition for

the establishment of a college came from Rev. Antonio Jimenez, May 18, 1850, in his applica- tion for a grant of town land for that purpose. About the same time Rev. Dr. Wicks, Presby- terian, seconded by John G. Nichols, opened the pioneer English school. In January, 1853, there were four schools, two of them teaching English. The oldest school-honses were built one on Bath, and the other on Spring street, under the supervision of Trustees J. G. Nichols and John O. Wheeler. At San Gabriel, J. F. Burns and Cesar C. Twitchell were teachers in 1856; Dr. John S. Griffin was elected super- intendent of common schools, with Francis Mellus, Agustin Olvera, and William A. Wallace as school commissioners. Williamn McKee and Mrs. Thomas Foster taught for some time. Mrs. Hoyt had a school in 1857, and two years later her daughter, Miss Mary E. Hoyt, taught, as did Miss Anna McArthur. The first organ- ization of a high school was made in 1873, Professor A. G. Brown being the first principal, and the next, Dr. W. T. Lneky, then city super. intendent of schools. The first-elass was grad- nated in 1875, consisting of five young women and two young men. Throughout the history of the school, boys and girls have shared the same classes, and the first prizes for scholarship have been won indifferently by the two sexes. The number of graduates has gradually increased for from one year to another, but with fluctua- tions, the largest number, twenty-six, having been reached by the class of 1885. From 1873 nntil 1882 the high school occupied a part of the wooden building that formerly stood on the site of the new county court-honse. Then, on account of pressure in the lower grades, it was moved to rooms in the State Normal building, where it remained for three years, until, the normal school having grown so as to require the whole building, the high school moved to rooms in the Sixth street building, where it now is. The city superintendent of schools continued to act as principal of the high school until 1881, Dr. Lucky being succeeded in 1876 by C. H. Kim- ball, and that gentleman, in 1880, by Mrs. C. B.

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

stones. The following year L. D. Smith was inade principal, and then superintendent. F. H Clark was elected principal in 1884. The course of study of this school in 1884 was arranged to provide the requisite preparation for any of the departments of the University of California, to which institution many of the graduates here have gone. It is the aim of the school to main- tain a course of instruction everywhere practical, and adapted both to those who become students at college and those who at once enter business or home life.

The Normal School at Los Angeles was established as a branch of the mammoth school at San José, by the Legislature of 1881. The snın of $50,000 was appropriated for a bnild. ing, and the trustees, instructed to select a site, in the next year chose the "Bellevue Terrace Orange Grove," of five and a half acres, on the corner of Charity and Fifth streets. The build- ing was finished for occupancy, and the school opened August 29, 1882, with sixty-one pupils and three teachers. The principal teacher was C. J. Flatt; preceptress, Emma L. Hawks; as- sistant, J. W. Redway. Charles H. Allen, also principal at San José, was principal. The num- ber of pupils increased to 126 during the school year of 1882-'83. In 1883 a separate principal was appointed for this school, the trustees selecting Ira More, who had tanght for some years in the main school at San José, having formerly been principal of the Minnesota State Normal School. The attendance is increasing each year, it being now more than 300. The first class, numbering twenty-two, was graduated in 1884, since when two classes a year have gone out, the whole number of gradnates now being 240, nearly all of whom are actively engaged in teaching, and making a good record. A school of 150 pupils, comprising the first five grades of the public schools, is attached to the normal as a practice school for the senior classes, where the young teacher is trained in exactly the work he is required to do in the public schools, for which he thus goes out thoroughly fitted. A later appropriation of

$10,000 by the Legislature put this building in excellent condition for its work. The ground has been graded; retaining walls were put in; trees, shrubbery and hedges planted, and much done to make the school an attractive feature of the city.

St. Vincent's College is a chartered institu- tion, conducted by the priests of St. Vincent's parish. The course of studies is commercial, scientific and classical, comprising all the branches usually taught in colleges. The mod- ern languages, French, Spanish and German, receive special attention. The college build- ings are commodious and well equipped. There are good accommodations for boarding pupils in the institution.

The Cathedral School is a parochial school for both sexes, organized in 1880. It is con- dueted by the Sisters of the Sacred Heart, in a fine new building. A boarding school for young ladies is connected with this institution, whose average attendance is about 300.

Ellis College 's in the western part of the city, being surrounded by well-kept grounds, with a fine view of mountain and valley scenery. The course of study comprises thorough train- ing in the various English branches, ancient and modern languages, music, painting and oratory. The preparatory department is graded to cover a period of five years. The art de- partment is a strong feature.

The University of Southern California, a very successful and important institution of learning, was established in 1879, owing to the energy and offices of Revs. A. M. Hough and M. M. Bovard, and Dr. J. P. Widney, Hon. E. F. Spence, Hon. R. M. Widney and G. D. Compton. The corner-stone of the building was laid on October 4 of that year, by Bishops Simpson and Wiley. This institution has re- ceived many valuable donations of land and money, inelnding lands worth $20,000, from Mrs. Sarah E. Tansey; a deed of trust for lands worth about $200,000, from Chaffee Brothers, of Ontario; lands worth $300,000 and a build- ing, from Hon. C. Maclay; property worth

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

$100,000, from the owners of the Escondido rancho; some $200,000 worth of city property at San Diego; from Judge Widney, property worth about $400,000; $40,000 worth of land from Rev. A. C. Hazard, of Downey City; $70,000 worth of property from Hon. E. F. Spence. and divers other considerable donations. Educational work was first begun in October, 1885, in the original building; a new one, com- pleted in 1886, cost some $37,000, mostly donated. This is 100 feet square, with a total floor area of nearly one acre. The total valna- tion of University property is nearly $1,000,- 000. The educational course consists, first, in an academic course in each of the several col- leges, designed to furnish education to tlie inasses. The college course is intended to fit students for the pursuit of the ordinary pro- fessions and the higher departments of business and general educational work. The post-grad. uate course will be under the supervision of a faculty comprising the president of the Univer- sity and the deans of each college. Thus stu- dents desiring to make a specialty of any de- partment of science will be enabled to continue their studies under as many different instructors and in as many different institutions as they may deem advisable, in order to perfect them in that specialty, returning to the University to pass their final examination and apply for their diploma. The Chaffee College of Agriculture of the University is located at Ontario; the Col- lege of Medicine is in Los Angeles city; the Maclay College of Theology is at San Fer- nando; the Freeman College of Applied Sciences is in course of erection at Inglewood; the Spence Observatory is to be erected on Wilson's Peak. There are also branch estab- lishments at Tulare City and Escondido. Rev. M. M. Bovard is the present president.

The Los Angeles College is a non-sectarian, Christian school, for the higher education of girls and young women. It was opened Sep- tember 2, 1885, under the management of its president, D. W. Hanna. It has a daily attend- ance of over 200 pupils, with eighteen teachers.

Two courses of study are here followed; the literary course may be completed in four years. There are further special courses.

The Los Angeles Baptist University was opened in the fall of 1887. Its building is a handsome structure, which cost $25,000. Its total enrollment has been 225, and the attend- ance in 1889 has been 107. The grounds are finely improved, and the institution has $100,- 000 worth of property, and out of debt. The curriculum is full and comprehensive, coin- prising classical and scientifie courses, besides musical and art branches. The president is Rev. J. H. Reider.

The Occidental University is in Boyle Heights, it being a boarding and day school for both boys and girls. Rev. S. H. Weller is the president.

IRA MORE,

Principal of the State Normal School at Los Angeles, was born in Parsonsfield, York County, Maine, May 20, 1829. He is of early New England stock, his great-grandfather, John More, who lost his life fighting the Indians in the war of 1756, being one of the early settlers of Scarboro, Maine. His grandfather, also, John More, was the first settler of Parsonsfield, and served in the Revolutionary army about Boston from before Bunker Hill until the Brit- ish were driven ont; and afterward served in New York. The young lad Ira was early in- ured to hard work in the flinty New England fields, a training which afterward did him excellent service; for both father and mother died before he was twelve, and the property left him being soon squandered by incompetent management on the part of those having it in charge, he found himself truly in a " parlons state, shepherd." However, with a courage born of blissful ignorance, not knowing the certain dangers and the hard struggle of life, nor the laws of "natural selection " and " survival of the fittest," he faced the situation as well as he conld, and took up the work which his hands found to do.

He went to Massachusetts in the early spring

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

of 1847, and graduated at the State Normal School at Bridgewater, at Christmas, 1849; afterward taught in the same school, and in Hingham, Milton and Newburyport; gradnated in the scientific department of Yale College in 1855; was elected first assistant of the Chicago High School in 1856, and helped to organize that institution, taking special charge of the city Normal School which was placed in connec- tion with it. Mindful of his duty to his native place, he returned to his early home for a wife, marrying Lucy C. Drew, April 16, 1857. They are still walking the " long path " together. In 1857 Mr. More was elected to the mathematical department of the State Normal University at Bloomington, Illinois. In the summer of 1861 he enlisted in the Thirty-third Regiment Illinois Infantry; saw three years of hard service, the siege and capture of Vicksburg being one of the campaigns. Resigned as Captain of Com- pany G, in the summer of 1864, broken in health by the malaria of the Western Louisiana bayons; removing to Minnesota in the spring of 1865, he was Professor of Mathematics in the University of Minnesota at Minneapolis, in 1867-'69. In the latter year he was elected principal of the Minnesota State Normal School at St. Cloud. Migrated to California in 1875; was principal of the San Diego public schools, 1875-'76; taught in the State Normal School at San José, 1876-'83, since which time he has been principal of the State Normal School at Los Angeles.

Few men still in the work have so long a public-school record. Of the thirty nine years since he began teaching, thirty have been devoted to the school-room; and of these, twenty-five years have been given to normal-school work. A frank, ontspoken manner, and a fearlessness in putting down factions opposition, have soine- times made him enemies, who have, however, nsnally become friends on knowing him better. He is growing old in the comfortable belief that the world is growing better, and that the position and treatment a man receives in this life, are on the average, as good as he deserves.

CHURCHES.

The Roman Catholic Church has in Los Angeles four edifices, with a fifth in process of construction. The Church of Our Lady of the Angels, at the Plaza on Main street, was built in 1821-'25, for the special use of the Spanish soldiers. In 1841 the building was greatly improved, and in 1862 it was frescoed and ornamented, and the grounds were laid out and planted. By 1870 the membership of this parish had so increased that the Cathedral was erected from it. The seating capacity is about 600. The parish is presided over by Rev. Peter Verdaguer, assisted by Revs. P. Groghan and J. Genier.

The Cathedral of Saint Vibiana was built in 1871-'76, being opened for public service on April 9, Palm Sunday, of the latter year; the formal dedication, conducted by Archbishop Alemany, took place on the 30th of that month. This church is 80 x 160 feet, with a seating capacity of 3,000. The style of architecture is similar to that of Puerto de San Miguel, at Barcelona, Spain. The decorations are fine. The erection of this edifice is dne mainly to the energies of Dr. Amat, Bishop Mora, and Father Verdaguer. The parish is now a very large one; its rector is the Very Rev. J. Adam, as- sisted by Revs. M. Liebarne, P. Garvin and A. J. Allen. Right Rev. Francis Mora is the Bishop of the diocese.

The Church of St. Vincent de Paul was established in 1887, under the administration of Father A. J. Meyer. the present rector. The building is 46 x 110 feet, and the tower is 120 feet high. More than a hundred families wor- ship here.

St. Joseph's Church, German, was erected in 1889. It is 32 x 70 feet, and is two stories in height, being ultimately designed for a school building, on the completion of a new church near by. About 300 families worship at this temple, services having been inaugurated last January. Rev. Josephi Florian Bartsch is the pastor.

The Church of the Sacred Heart, East Los

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

Angeles, is not yet completed. This parish was organized about the middle of 1888, by Rev . P. Harnett, whose flock comprises about 180 families.

RIGHT REV. FRANCIS MORA,

Bishop of the Diocese of Monterey and Los Angeles, was born in the city of Vich, in Cata- lonia, a province of Spain, November 25, 1827, and was thus by birth a fellow-countryman of Inany of the most energetic missionaries in California, Texas and Florida. It was therefore natural that a taste for foreign missions should early have been awakened in him. Although at the early age of three years he lost his parents, he was cared for by devoted servants of the church, and in early youth devoted himself to the service of God in the sanctuary and to the studies of Latin, philosophy and theology in the Episcopal Seminary of Vich, in Spain.

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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