Historical and biographical record of Los Angeles and vicinity : containing a history of the city from its earliest settlement as a Spanish pueblo to the closing year of the nineteenth century ; also containing biographies of well known citizens of the past and present, Part 27

Author: Guinn, James Miller, 1834-1918
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago : Chapman Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 996

USA > California > Los Angeles County > Los Angeles > Historical and biographical record of Los Angeles and vicinity : containing a history of the city from its earliest settlement as a Spanish pueblo to the closing year of the nineteenth century ; also containing biographies of well known citizens of the past and present > Part 27

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHES.

The first Protestant sermon ever preached in Los Angeles was delivered by a Methodist minis- ter, Rev. J. W. Brier. The place of service was the adobe residence of J. G. Nichols, which stood on the present site of the Bullard Block, and the time a Sunday in June, 1850. Mr. Brier was one of the belated immigrants of 1849, who reached Salt Lake City too late in the season to cross the Sierra Nevadas before the snowfall. A party of these numbering 500 under the leadership of Jeff Hunt, a Mormon, started by the then un- known southern route to Los Angeles. After traveling together for several weeks, a number of the immigrants became dissatisfied, and leav- ing the main body undertook to reach the settle- ments on the sea coast by crossing the desert in the neighborhood of Death Valley. Mr. Brier was of this party. Many of these unfortunates perished on the desert. After almost incredible hardships and sufferings Mr. Brier, with his wife and three children, reached Los Angeles in Feb- ruary, 1850, by way of the Soledad Cañon. He remained here for several months and then went North.

Early in 1853 Rev. Adam Bland was sent by the California Conference to Los Angeles as a missionary. His field was Southern California. He rented or leased for a church a frame building which had formerly been used for a saloon. This building stood on the present site of the Merced Theatre or Abbot Block. Here he held regular services twice every Sunday from 1853 to 1855, when he was made presiding elder. Mrs. Bland taught a girls' school in the building in 1853, which was known as the Methodist Chapel. The other pastors who either assisted him while in charge of the church or succeeded him were Revs. J. Dunlap, J. McHenry Colwell and W. R. Peck. In October, 1857, Elijah Mearchant took charge, succeeding Rev. A. L. S. Bateman. In the Weekly Star of March 1, 1855, I find this item: "Rev. Mr. Colwell informs us that a con- tract has been made with Messrs. Loyd & Sons to build a brick church in this city next summer. The size is to be 40X24 feet. The materials are to be of the best and the style the most modern. The property is to belong to the Methodist Epis- copal Church. The entire cost is provided for except $500." The church was not built. After 1858 the field seems to have been abandoned. There is no record of any other Methodist ininis- ter being stationed here until 1866, when Rev. C. Gillet came as a missionary. He was suc- ceeded by A. P. Hernden in 1867. Rev. A. P. Coplin had charge in 1868 and Rev. A. M. Hough in 1869-70. The first church built by

the Methodist denomination in Los Angeles is the brick building still standing in the rear of No. 325-327 Broadway, between Third and Fourth streets. It was dedicated November 15, 1868. The following extract from the Weekly Star gives an account of the dedication and cost of the building. "The services of dedication of the new Methodist Church in this city took place on Sunday morning last, November 15. Rev. Dr. Thomas of San Francisco preached the dedi- cating sermon. Rev. A. Bland assisted on the occasion. There was a large attendance and a subscription of $750 was taken up, leaving as a debt on the congregation $1,000. The lot and building cost $3,150, of which $1,400 have been paid." In 1875 a second church edifice was erected on the south 70 feet of the lot on which the first building was built. The second build- ing cost $18,000. In 1887 it was enlarged and improved at an expense of $14,000. The con- version of Fort street, now changed to Broad- way, to a business street necessitated the change of the church's location. The lot was sold in July, 1899, for $68,000. The last sermon was preached in it Angust 20, 1899. The congrega- tion of the First Methodist Church, formerly the Fort street, has just completed a handsome build- ing on the northeast corner of Hill and Sixth streets. The following list gives the date of the organization and location of the different Method- ist churches of the city.

Grace Methodist Episcopal Church, organized in 1883, originally located at No. 445 East First street, since removed to Hewitt street.

Simpson Methodist Episcopal Church, No. 734 South Hope street, organized February 26, 1887. The building and lot cost $50,000, since sold and converted into an auditorium.

Central Methodist Church, organized September 12, 1885, West Fifteenth street, between South Main and Hill street.

Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church, North Workman, between Downey avenue and Hoff street, organized in 1882.

Vincent Methodist Episcopal Church on East Twenty-ninth street, near South Main, organized May 1, 1889.

Central Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church, near corner Central and Vernon Avenue, organ- ized March 18, 1888.

Boyle Heights Methodist Episcopal Church, No. 200 North St. Louis street, organized in 1883

First German Methodist Episcopal Church. West Fourth street, between Broadway and Hill street, organized November. 1876.

Swedish Methodist Episcopal Church No. 717 South Los Angeles street, organized Decembe: 25, 1887.

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Wesley Chapel (Colored) corner East Sixth and Maple Avenue, organized August 24, 1888.

University Methodist Episcopal Church, corner West Twenty-seventh street and Wesley Avenue, organized 1881.

Union Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church, cor- ner Union Avenue and Court street, organized in 1888.

Pico Heights Methodist Episcopal Church, West Pico and Twelfth street, organized 1890.

Haven Methodist Episcopal Church, northwest corner East Twenty-seventh and Paloma street, organized in 1890.

Prospect Park Methodist Episcopal Church, Sun- set Boulevard and Park Place.

First Free Methodist Church, East Sixth, near Crocker.

German Zion Methodist Episcopal Church, No. 505 East Pico street.

Epworth Methodist Episcopal Church, corner Bellevue Avenue and Centennial.

African Methodist Church, No. 312 Azusa street, organized in 1888.

German Evangelical Association, No. 718 South Olive street, organized in 1884.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHES (SOUTH).

The first permanent organization of this de- nomination was effected in 1873. A lot was pur- chased on the east side of Spring street, between First and Second streets, where the Corfu Block now stands. On this was erected the original Trinity Church, under the pastorate of the Rev. A. M. Campbell. This church was sold in 1884 and a larger lot purchased on Fort street, between Fifth and Sixth streets. On this, in 1885, a building costing about $40,000 was erected. This lot was sold in 1894 at a handsome profit and the present building on Grand avenue near Eighth street built.

The other churches of this denomination are:

Bellevue Avenue, 1035 Bellevue avenue. Or- ganized in 1886.

Free Methodist, East Fifth street, between Crocker and Towne.

West End Methodist, 1809 South Union avenue. Mateo Street Church, corner Mateo and Sixth street.

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES.

As pioneers in the missionary field of Los An- geles, the Methodists came first and the Presby- terians second. The Rev. James Woods held the first Presbyterian service in November, 1854, in a little carpenter shop that stood on part of the site now occupied by the Pico House. The first organization of a Presbyterian church was ef- fected in March, 1855, with twelve members.

The Rev. Mr. Woods held regular Sunday ser- vice in the old Court House, northwest corner of North Spring and Franklin streets, during the fall of 1854 and part of the year 1855, and also organized a Sunday School. He was succeeded by the Rev. T. N. Davis, who continued regular service until Angust, 1856, when he abandoned the field in disgust and returned to his home in the east.

The editor of the Los Angeles Star, comment- ing on his departure and on the moral destitution of the city, says: "The Protestant portion of the American population are now without the privi- lege of assembling together to worship God un- der direction of one of his ministers."

"The state of society here is truly deplorable." * * * * "To preach week after week to empty benches is certainly not encouraging, but it in addition to that a minister has to contend against a torrent of vice and immorality which obliterates all traces of the Christian Sabbath-to be com- pelled to endure blasphemous denunciations of his Divine Master; to live where society is disor- ganized, religion scoffed at, where violence runs riot, and even life itself is unsafe-such a condi- tion of affairs may suit some men, but is not cal- culated for the peaceful labors of one who follows unobtrusively the footsteps of the meek and lowly Savior."

The next Presbyterian minister to locate in Los Angeles was the Rev. William E. Boardman. He and his wife arrived February 6, 1859. He preached his first sermon February 26, in School House No. 2, located on Bath street north of the plaza. He reorganized the Sunday school.

After the departure of the Rev. Mr. Davis in 1856, and the discontinuance of Methodist and Episcopal services in the latter part of 1857 a season of spiritual darkness enshrouded Los An- geles. There was, as far as I can learn, no Protestant service in Los Angeles during the year 1858.

It had become clearly evident to the few church- going people resident in the city that different de- nominational church services could not be main- tained in it. On the 4th of May, 1859, a meeting was held (the Rev. W. E. Boardman act- ing as chairman) at which an organization was effected, known as the "First Protestant Society." The object of the society was "to secure for ourselves and others in our city the privilege of divine worship according to the Protestant or- der." The trustees elected were Judge I. S. K. Ogier, Hon. B. D. Wilson, J. R. Gitchell, N. A. Potter and Wm. McKee. J. R. Gitchell, Wm. McKee and H. D. Barrows were appointed col- lectors to obtain funds for the benefit of the so- ciety. The organization was composed of mem-

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

bers of different Protestant denominations and of those who did not belong to any. The Rev. Mr. Boardman continued to preach for the society up to the time of his departure, April, 1862. The services were held at first in the school house and later in the court house.

A lot was secured at the southwest corner of Temple and New High streets and the erection of a brick church begun. The work progressed slowly. When Mr. Boardman left, early in 1862, the walls were up and the roof on, but the building was not fit for occupancy. After the departure of Mr. Boardman another season of "'spiritual darkness" settled down on the city. The War of Secession was in progress and sec- tional hatreds were bitter. During 1863 and 1864 there was no regular Protestant service. A Methodist South minister by the name of Stewart preached occasionally to a few Secession sympa- thizers, but the Unionists ignored his services. The next Presbyterian minister to locate in Los Angeles was the Rev. W. C. Harding, who came

in 1869. He abandoned the field in 1871. The Rev. F. A. White, LL. D., came in 1875. He was succeeded by the Rev. F. M. Cunningham, and he by the Rev. J. W. Ellis. Under the min- istry of Mr. Ellis in 1882-83 a church was erected on the southeast corner of Broadway and Second streets. The building and lot cost about $20,000. Services were held in it until March, 1895, when it was sold for $55,000. The board of trustees, backed up by a portion of the congregation, took the funds and proceeded to build a palatial church edifice at the corner of Figueroa and Twentieth streets. This brought on a factional conflict. The Presbytery divided the congregation of the old First Church into two churches-the Central aud the Westminster-and awarded the Central $23,790 of the proceeds of the sale of the First Church lot and building. The Westminster fac- tion claiming to be the real First Presbyterian re- fused to divide. The conflict was eventually car- ried to the highest ecclesiastical court of the de- nomination-the General Assembly-and to the highest civil court of the state-the Supreme Court. In both these courts the action and the award of the Presbytery was sustained. The Westminster faction then deeded the lot and church edifice at the corner of Twentieth and Figueroa streets to the Central Church, incum- bered by a $10,000 mortgage, and the majority of them withdrew from the Presbyterian denomi- nation; and under the leadership of B. E. How- ard, whom the Presbytery had suspended from the ministry, set up an independent church. A portion of the members remained loyal to the Presbyterian faith and reorganized as the First

Presbyterian Church and continued to occupy the building at the corner of Figueroa and Twen- tieth streets.

The other churches of this denomination in the city are:

Second Presbyterian, southwest corner of Daly and Downey avenue. Organized in 1884.

Third Presbyterian, southwest corner of Hill and Sixteenth streets, organized in 1885.

Boyle Heights Presbyterian, North Chicago street, organized in 1886.

Immanuel Presbyterian, southeast corner Fig- neroa and Tenth streets, organized in 1888.

Bethany Presbyterian, corner Bellevue and Hal- liday, organized in 1887.

Bethesda Presbyterian, southwest corner Cen- tral avenue and East Ninth street. Organized in 1895.

Central Presbyterian, Y. M. C. A. Hall, Broadway, organized in 1895.

Grand View Presbyterian, West Washington and Gertrude avenue.

Chinese Presbyterian, 214 Wilmington street.

Welsh Presbyterian, 436 Crocker street.

Spanish Presbyterian, Avila and Macy streets. Cumberland Presbyterian, 139 West Fifth. No building. The church was organized in 1887.

First United Presbyterian, northeast corner Hill and Eighth. This church was organized April 26, 1883, with fifteen members. It occupies its own building.

Second United Presbyterian, corner Santee and East Washington streets; organized in 1895.

Reformed Presbyterian, East Twenty-first and Trinity streets.

PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCHES.

The first Protestant Episcopal Church service held in Los Angeles was conducted by Dr. Ma- thew Carter. An item in the Weekly Star of May 9, 1857, states that "Dr. Carter announces that he has been licensed aud authorized by the Right Rev. W. Ingraham Kip, Bishop of California, to act as lay reader for the Southern District." He held regular service for a time in Mechanics' Institute Hall, which was in a sheet-iron building near the corner of Court and North Spring streets. In October, 1857, St. Luke's parish was organized, and the following named gentlemen elected a board of trustees: Dr. T. J. White, Dr. Mathew Carter and William Shore. A building was rented on Main street, near Second, where services were held every Sunday, Dr. Carter offi- ciating. Services seem to have been discontinued about the close of the year 1857, and the church was dissolved. On January 1, 1865, the Rev. Elias Birdsall, a missionary of the Protestant

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Episcopal Church, preaclied his first sermon in Odd Fellows' Hall, Downey

Block. The Protestant society which had begun the erec- tion of a church building in 1859 under the ministration of the Rev. Wm. E. Boardman, a Presbyterian minister, as has been previously stated, offered the unfinished building to the Rev. Mr. Birdsall for service. He assented to this on condition that it be transferred to the Episco- palians. Those who had contributed towards its erection consented, and the transfer was made. The edifice was completed and named St. Athanasius Church, and the Episcopalians continued to worship in this building until Christmas, 1883, in the meantime selling the property to the county for a court-house site. A site for a new church was purchased on Olive street, between Fiftlı and Sixth streets, where a handsome building was erected. In 1884 the name of the organization was changed to St. Paul's Church, the name it still bears. The other churches of this organiza- tion are:

Church of the Ascension, N. St. Louis, near Brooklyn, organized in 1889.

Church of the Epiphany, corner N. Sichel and Altura streets, organized in 1886.

Christ's Church, N. E. corner W. Pico and S. Flower, organized in 1887.

St. John's Church, S. E. corner W. Adams and S. Figueroa, organized in 1888.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES.

The first Congregational minister to locate in Los Angeles was the Rev. Alexander Parker, a Scotchman by birth and a graduate of Oberlin College and Theological Seminary. He had served in the Union army as a member of the famous student company of Oberlin College-a company whose membership was largely made up of theological students.

He preached his first sermon here July 7, 1866, in the court-honse. A church was organized July 21, 1867, with six members. A lot was purchased on New High street, north of Temple, where the Beaudry stone wall now stands, and a movement begun to raise funds to build a church. The effort was successful. The following extract from the Los Angeles Star gives an account of the dedication of the church:

"On Sunday morning last (June 28, 1868), the new Congregational Church was opened for divine service at 11 A. M.

"The Rev. E. C. Bissell, pastor of Green Street Church, San Francisco, delivered the dedicatory sermon. At the close of the sermon the Rev. Al- exander Parker came forward and gave an account of his stewardship in his exertions to raise this house for the worship of God. The total cost

was about $3,000, of which $1,000 was obtained from San Francisco; $1,000 partly as a loan and partly as a gift from churches in the Atlantic states, and collections of small amounts at home, leaving at present a debt of about $400 011 the building, which, though complete, is not yet quite furnished. The house is small, but very neatly arranged; the pews are ample and con- fortable, and the building is lofty and well venti- lated. Its dimensions are 30x50 feet; it will seat 175 to 200 persons."

The Rev. Mr. Parker resigned in August, 1868. He was succeeded by the Rev. Isaac W. Ather- ton, who reorganized the church November 29, 1868. Services were held in the little church on New High street until 1883, when, on May 3d of that year, the church on the corner of Hill and Third streets was completed and dedicated. The building lot and organ cost about $25,000. In May, 1888, this building was sold to the Central Baptist Church, and a lot purchased on the south- west corner of Hill and Sixth street. On this a building was erected in 1889. The cost of the lot, church building and furnishing amounted to about $72,000, to which has been added a fine organ, at a cost of about $5,000. The other churches of this denomination are:

The Second or Park Congregational Church, cor- ner Temple and Metcalf streets, organized June 8, 1884.

Third Congregational, cor. N. Main and Rail- road streets, organized in 1884.

East Los Angeles Congregational, 140 N. Daly street, organized March 20, 1887.

Plymouth Congregational, W. Twenty-first street, near Lovelace, organized in 1888.

Olivet Congregational, W. Washington and Magnolia, organized in 1889.

West End Congregational, near Temple road, organized in 1891.

Bethlehem Congregational, corner Vignes and Lazard, organized in 1892.

Central Avenue Congregational, 2500 Central avenue, organized in 1892.

Pico Heights Congregational, El Molino street, organized in 1887.

Vernon Congregational, 1270 Vernon avenue, organized in 1885.

BAPTIST CHURCHES.

The first sermon preached by a Baptist minister in Los Angeles was delivered by the Rev. Mr. Freeman in 1853.

The first regular church services held in this city by a Baptist minister were conducted by the Rev. Mr. Fryer in school house No. 1, which stood on the northwest corner of Spring and Second streets. The Rev. Mr. Fryer held serv-

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ices every other Sunday during the year 1860. He seems to have abandoned the field in the early part of 1861. I find no record of any services by a minister of that church between 1861 and 1874.

The First Baptist Church of Los Angeles was organized September 6, 1874, by the Rev. Will- iam Hobbs. There were but eight members in the organization. The services were held in the old court house. Dr. Hobbs severed his connec- tion with the church in June, 1875. For fifteen months the church was without a pastor. In September, 1876, the Rev. Winfield Scott took charge of it. He was succeeded in 1878 by the Rev. I. N. Parker, and he by the Rev. Heury Angel, who died in 1879.

The church meetings were transferred from the court house to a hall owned by Dr. Zahn, on Spring street between Fourth and Fifth streets. From there it moved to Good Templars' Hall on North Main street. The ordinance of baptism was administered either in the river or in the baptistery of the Christian Church on Temple street.

For two years after the death of Dr. Angel the church remained without a regular minister. In 1881 the Rev. P. W. Dorsey took charge of it. A lot was secured on the northeast corner of Fort and Sixth streets, and in March, 1884, a church building was completed and dedicated. The building and lot cost about $25,000. In the summer of 1897 the lot and building were sold for $45,000, and with the addition of $5,000 raised by subscription a larger and more commo- dious building was erected on Flower street, be- tween Seventh and Eighth streets.

The other churches of this denomination are: The East Los Angeles Baptist Church, corner of Daly and Manitou avenue; organized Septem- ber, 1885.

Memorial Baptist, Twenty-third and Grand avenue; organized January, 1889.

Central Baptist, Pico and Flower streets; or- ganized June, 1885.

American Baptist, Twenty-ninth and Orchard; organized 1895.

Bethel, Twenty-fifth and Central avenue; or- ganized 1896.

German, Eighth and Maple; organized 1886. Swedish, 717 West Eighth; organized 1887.

Baptist Colored Churches-Mt. Zion, Second, St. Paul's and Tabernacle.

The aggregate membership of the Baptist churches in Los Angeles is about 2,500.

CHRISTIAN CHURCHES.

The first sermon preached by a member of the Christian denomination was delivered by the Rev. G. W. Linton in August, 1874, in the court

roo11 of the old court house. In October and November of that year inquiries were made in the city for persons who had been connected with the church in other places. Twenty-three were found. Of these fifteen signified their willingness to unite in forming a church. On the 26th of Feb- ruary, 1875, the first church was organized. The Rev. W. J. A. Smith was the first preacher. He conducted church services from 1875 to 1877. He was succeeded by the Rev. John C. Hay, who served as pastor from 1877 to 1881. The Rev. B. F. Coulter filled the pulpit from 1881 to 1884. During his ministry, and largely through his contributions, the First church was built on Temple street near Broadway. Services were held in this building until 1894, when it was sold and a church edifice erected on the corner of Hope and Eleventh streets at a cost of $25,000. The Rev. A. C. Smithers, pastor, membership, 600. In 1895 the Rev. B. F. Coulter erected the Broadway Church of Christ on Broadway near Temple, at a cost of about $20,000. He con- ducts the services in this church, which has a membership of between five and six hundred and is free of debt.

The other churches of the denomination are:

East Los Angeles Christian Church, organized in 1888.

The Central Christian Church, located at 3306 South Main; organized August 2, 1891.

East Eighth Christian Church, near Central avenue; organized September 9, 1897. Rev. W. J. A. Smith, pastor.

LUTHERAN CHURCHES.

First German, 755 S. Flower, was organized in 1883. Cost of lot and building, $20,000.

Swedish, Tenth and Grand avenue, was or- ganized in 1888. Value of church property, $15,000.

First English Lutheran, Flower and Eighth streets, was organized in 1887. Value of church property, $25,000.

HOLINESS CHURCHES.

Church of the Redeemcr, 1231 West Jefferson street, was organized June, 1896.

North Chicago Street. Value of property, $1,000.

UNITARIAN CHURCHES.

The first religious services held by the Uni- tarians were at the residence of T. E. Severance in March, 1877. In May of that year an organi- zation was perfected and regular services were conducted by the Rev. John D. Wells.

In 1885 the Rev. Eli Fay located in Los An- geles and conducted services for a time in the

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Masonic Hall, 135 S. Spring street. The church was reorganized and the services were held in Child's Opera House on Main street. A lot was secured on Seventh street near Broadway, and largely through the liberality of Dr. Fay a church building, 45x 100 feet in area, was erected at a cost of $25,000. The churchi was dedicated June 16, 1889. It was destroyed by fire in 1892. The congregation then purchased from the Bap- tists the church building on the northeast corner of Hill and Third streets, originally built by the Congregationalists. This site was sold for busi- ness purposes in 1899. The last sermon was preached in it by the Rev. C. K Jones Marclı 18, 1900. The congregation is building a new church on Flower street near Ninth.

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Historical and biographical record of Los Angeles and vicinity : containing a history of the city from its earliest settlement as a Spanish pueblo to the closing year of the nineteenth century ; also containing biographies of well known citizens of the past and present, Part 27

Author: Guinn, James Miller, 1834-1918 Publication date: 1901 Publisher: Chicago : Chapman Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 996

Author: Guinn, James Miller, 1834-1918
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago : Chapman Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 996