USA > California > Los Angeles County > History of Los Angeles County, California, with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, residences, fine blocks and manufactories > Part 10
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Revolutions are matters of frequent vecurrence in California. They ure gut up by men who are at the foot of the ladder and in des. pernte circumstances, just as a new political organization may be started by such men in our own country. The only ohjeet, of course, ix the lonves and fishes ; and instead of rourusiny, paragraphing. libel- ing, T'essting, promising and lying, they take umskets and bayonets. and seizing upon the presidio and custom-house, divide the spoils, and derlarr a new dynasty. As for justier, they know litthe law but will and fear. A Yankee, who had been naturalized and become a Catholic, and hnul married in the country, was sitting in his house nt the Pueblo de los Angeles with his wife aml children, when a Mexican, with whom he had had a ditheulty. entered the house and stabbed him to the Iwart before them all. The murderer was seized hy somne Yankees who had settled there, sul was kept in confinement until a statement of the whole affair could be sent to the Governor-General. The Governor General refused to do anything about it, and the countrymen of the murdered man, seeing no prospect of justice being administered, gave notice that if nothing was done they wouhl try the man themselves. it chancedl that, at this time, there was a com- many of some thirty or forty trappers and hunters from the Western States, with their rifles, who land made their headquarters at the pueblo : aml these, together with the Americans and English who were in the place, (who were between twenty and thirty in number,, tunk possession of the town, and, waiting a reasonable time, proceeded to try the man according to the forms in their own country. A judge and jury were appointed. and he was tried, convicted, sentenced to be shot, and carried out before the town blindfolded. The names of all the men were then juit into a hat, and each one pledging himself to perforin his duty, twelve names were drawn out, the men took their stations with their rifles, and, firing at the word, laid him dead. lle was decently buried, and the place was restored to the proper author- ities. A general, with titles enough for a hidalgo, was at Sim Gabriel, and issued a proclamation as long as the fore-top-howline, threatening destruction of the rebels, but never stirred from his fort : for forty Kentucky hunters with their rifles, and a dozen of Yankees and Englishmen, were a match for a whole regiment of hungry, drawliug. lazy half-breeds. This atfair happened while we were at San Pedro, the port of the pueblo, and we had the particulars from those who were on the spot."
Mr. Dana then refers to another crime, committed in Los
Angeles county some months later, but as his version of the matter is rather obsenre, and withal erroneons, we will relate it as told to the writer by Col. .. .. Warner of los Angeles, who was an eye witness of the last act in the tragedy, and Iwrfeetly familiar with all the Facts;
In the fall of 1535 occurred a murder which startled the order- loving citizens of the meblo, and created widespread consterna- tion A Mexican woman, residing at or near the mission of Sau tialriel, proved notrue to her husband, and the matter came before a elerieu-legal tribunal in Los Angeles for review. The venliet was that she should return lo her husband, and in con- formity thereto she and her husbandl started from the city for the'r home, both ri ling upon one horse. Not long afterward the munlered ladly of the hushatol was found on the road leiling from Los Angeles to the mission. Suspicion at once fill upon the woman ( who was missing and her paramour. They were discovered, living together, were tried before the alealde, wele fouml guilty and anteneed to death. At this time the death penalty could not be enforced in California without review and approbation of the courts of Mexico. This would take from a year tu a year and a half, for " the law's ilelaya" wero numerous, There was no jail in Los Angeles, and mm plaer fil. to confine prisoners of this class. There was a widespaend belief among both untive and foreign residents, that if the In.w. was allowed to Take its course, the culprits woubl ultimately go " sent free." Under this impression a trilomnal uf citizrtis (native and foreign) met, passel upon the case, sentenced the prisoners to immediate execution, and without opposition from the authorities took the man and woman out of the plaen where they were conhueil, and shoot Them Inth,
When a erinn: was committed by linlians, the case was different. Ju illustration of this inconsistency in the adminis- tration of justice in California at this time, Mr. Dana says :
One Sunday afternoon, while 1 was at San Diego, an Indian was sit- ting on his horse, when another, with whom he had had some difficulty, came up to him, drew a long knife, and plunged it directly into the horse's heart. The Indian sprung from his falling horse, drew ont the knife, and plunged it into the other Indian's breast over his shoulder. and laid him dead. The fellow was seized at once, clapped into the calabozo, and kept there until an answer could be received from Mon- terey. A few weeks afterwards, Heaw the poor wretch sitting on the hare ground in front of the Calabozo, with his feet chained to a stake and hand-cuffs about his wrists. I knew there was very little hope for him. Although the deed was done in hot blood, the horse on which he was sitting being his own, and a favorite with him, yet he was an lundiau, and that was enough. lu about a week after I saw hins, I heard that he had been shot. These few instaucce will serve to give one a notion of the distribution of justice in California.
Speaking of the habits of the people, he says further :-
In their domestic relations these people are not better than in their publie. The men are thriftless, proud, extravagant, and very much given to gaming; aud the women, having but little education, and a good deal of beauty, their morality, of course, is none of the best; yet the instances of infidelity are much less frequent than one would at first suppose. In fact, one vice is set over against another, and thus some- thing like a halance is obtained. If the women have but little virtue,
32
HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY
CALIFORNIA.
the jealousy of their husbands is extrewe, their revenge deadly and almost certain. A few inches of cold steel has been the punishment of many an unwary man, who has been guilty perhaps of nothing more than indiscretion. The dilliculties of the attempt are numerous, and the consequences of discovery fatal, in the better classes. With the unmarried womcię also, great watchfulness is used. The main object of the parents is to marry their daughters well. and to this a fair name is necessary. The sharp eyes of a duena, and the ready weapons of a father or brother, are a protection which the characters of most of them -men and women-render by no means useless; for the very men who would lay down their lives to avenge the dishonor of their own family, would risk the same lives to complete the dishonor of another.
Harsh as it may appear, Mr. Dana's portrayal of Californian society in that carly day has in it doubtless more than a mod- iem of truth. Yet, as we proceed, we shall find much to admire in this people, and meet with many instances of a whole-souled aud chivalrous generosity among them, highly creditable to any nation. The Americans who settled in Cali- fornia during Mexican supremacy, and who identified them- selves with the interests of the country at that period, have placed on record a much kinder criticism of the native popula- tion than did Mr. Dana. Nor is this conflict of statement to be wondered at, when we consider that as a common sailor of a trading ship, and Imit a boy in years, he had access only to the ruder classes; while these others, being established in the country, mixed with all classes, and thus were enabled to form a l'airer estimate as to the whole. Thus Colonel J. J. Warner bears witness that ou his arrival in 1831, the native popula- tion was, as a rule, honest, reliable, and generous to a fault. Crime was at a minimum, those of the graver class being of exceedingly rare occurrence. Thus Mr. Benjamin D. Wilson, ten years later, was induced to settle permanently in the country, by the kindness and hospitality of the natives, and has left upon record that at that time "courts, lawyers, and judges were unknown, nor was there any need of them. The people were honest and hospitable; their word as good as their bond; in fact, bonds and notes of hand were entirely unknown to the native population."
CHAPTER XII.
PIONEERS.
(1822-1846.)
Policy of Mexico toward Foreigners-Importance of San Pedro-First Settlers -Jedediah S. Smith-Trade with Sonora-Condition of Los Angeles County in 1831-Census of 1836 -- Eastern Emigration Societies -- Biographie Sketches of Early Settlers-McKinly-John Temple-Rice-Leandry- Ferguson - Laughlin - Pryor - Stearns - Bouchet -White-Domingo- Portuguese George - Rocha -Prentice - Warner - Young-Wolfskill- Vignes - Bowman - Rhea-Day - Ward-Rice-Pawkling-Williams- Carson -Carpenter - Chard-Lecse-Johnson-H. Reid-Keith-Prnd- homme - H. Mellus -Graham - Hall-Marsh - J. Reed - F. Mellus- Rowland- Wilson - Workman -F. P. F Temple - Alexander - Bell - Den-Dalton-Mascarel.
WE have already referred to the fact, that under Spanish rule, all foreigners were excluded from California ; and nnder the title of " The Gringos," have noticed the advent of the first English-speaking settlers. After assertion of her independence, Mexico, though still jealous of outsiders, adopted a somewhat more liberal course toward them. Subject to certain restric tions and heavy duties, foreign ships were now permitted to trade; and soon the merchants of Boston, and other eastern ports, took advantage of that permission-however niggardly the inanner in which it might be accorded. They brought foreign and domestic goods in exchange for hides and tallow ; and speedily the little port of San Pedro, unknown till now, became the most important point on the whole Pacific coast; for was it not the ocean inlet and outlet to three great mis- sions, the largest town on this side of the continent, and several stock ranches, cach larger than the kingdom of many a petty European prince.
As yet there were no foreign settlers, save a few Russians in the North. They who came, came only to trade; and like Dana, hurried back home, eursing the country as barren and the inhabitants as barbarous. But gradually these changed their opinions, and some came back for a second visit. The climate was delightful-all admitted that; the soil was fruit- ful, where water could be procured; upon the whole it was not such a bad country after all, and some stayed. Gradnally this class of thinkers increased. Sailors, weary of roaming, forsook their ships, selected a piece of ground, married a señorita, and settled down. They came by land, and they came by water. They came of all classes, of all complexions, of all tongues. They came-good, bad, and indifferent. They came as come the locusts, in a fast-increasing swarm; and before the sleepy natives were half awake to the danger, these restless "gringos" had devoured their patrimony.
Yet not without a struggle did the natives succumb. The first American who entered California overland was Jedediah S. Smith, of the Rocky Mountain Fur Company. He came from
the Yellowstone in 1825,-scoring one more triumph for the great "Smith" family ? How he was treated on that first visit does not appear ; but in the following year, when he reachedl the mission of San Gabriel in company with two others, sok survivors of a large party slain by the Indians on the Rio Colorado, destitute, without food or horses, they were al promptly seized and hurried off to the presidio of San Diego, as spies, caught in the act. That branch of the Smith family might then and there have come to an untimely end, had not all the American captains on the coast, made commnon caux: for him, and vouched emphatically for his integrity ; this, not from any knowledge they had of him personally, but because each one was acquainted with some one or more scions of the family tree, of which this Smith was an off-shoot.
Strange to say, there had been no intercourse between Sonora and California, up to 1831. Thus Colonel Warner writes :-
With Mr. Wolfskill's party there were a number of New Mexicans, some of whom had taken scrapes and fresdas (woolen blankets) with them for the purpose of trading thewi to the Indians in exchange for beaver skius. On their arrival in California they advantageously di- posed of their blaukets to the raucheros in exchange for mufes. These New Mexicans mostly returued to Santa Fe in the summer of 1831, with the mules they had obtained in Caliloruia. The appearance of these mules in New Mexico, owing to their large size, compared with those at that time used in the Missouri aud Santa Fe trade, and their very fine form, as well as the price at which they had been bought in barter for blankets, caused quite a sensation in New Mexico, out of which sprang up a trade, carried on by means of caravans or pack animals between the two sections of the same country, which flourished for some ten or twelve years. These caravans reacned California yearly during the betore-meutioned time. They brought the woolen fabric- of New Mexico. and carried back mutes: also silk. and other Chinese goods.
Los Angeles was the central point in California of this New Mexican trade. Coming by the northern or Green and Virgiu river soutes, the caravans came through the Cajon Pass aud reached Los Angeles. From thence they scattered theniselves over the country from San Diego to San Jose, nud across the Bay to Souoma and Sau Rafael. Having bartered and disposed ol' the goods brought, and procured such as they wished to carry back, and what mules they could drive, they concentrated at Los Angeles for their yearly return.
At this time Los Angeles was the only settlement of any importance in the county, and by far the largest in the ter- ritory. Old Los Nietos had three or four families. Oldl Sauta Ana about as many. Verdugo's (San Rafael) the same. Aside from these settlements, and the three missions, Los Angeles county was wholly unoccupied, save by vast bands of untamed cattle and horses, which roamed at will, and were preyed upon by grizzly bears from the mountains, and wild Indians from the desert.
Among the many interesting documents on file in the Los Angeles City archives, is the report of a census taken in 1836. embracing the territory now within the limits of los Ang. eles county. It is very similar in plan to such reports at the present day, and states the population as follows :
CARRIAGE MANUFACTORY.
S
S
S
L.LICHTENBERGER.
S
S
-
MAIN STREET
-
-
L. LICHTENBERGER, MANUFACTURER OF CARRIAGES AND BUGGIES, WAGONS, ETC., Nos. 145 & 147 MAIN STREET, LOS ANGELES CAL.
PUBLISHED BY THOMPSON & WEST.
ALSO MAKER AND DEALER IN THE OPPENHEIMER DOUBLE BUGGY.
33
Adult white makes ..
603
11 females. 121
-
children : 651
Indians- male and female, domesticated Indians, will, not stated.
The following is a list of the foreign names appearing therein :
NAME.
AMA:
NATIVITY.
Thomas Lewis
29
Fuited States
Jolm Temple .. .
40
John J. Warner
John Rice .. . .
Sumnel Prentiss
:17
Richard Langhlin
William Wolfskill
אן:
Isane Willianis
John Marslanti
William Diekons
52
..
44
Alexander Dann
29
Txane Graham
Thomas Bideter
30
14
fleury Neil
26
Charles IJutl
Francis Green
Lonis 14 Lecce
Abel Stearns
:37
N. M. I'rvor
William Keith. Daniel Kive
2.1
Sammel Carpenter
2.1
Josephı Ferguson
32
3.1
Hugh Reid
97
William Day
Gilbert Bowman
Thomas Katon
Jimnes JJohnson
38
England
Willimin Stephens
John Fitzpatrick
Daniel Ferguson
Ireland
Michael White
30
..
Lunis Bonchelte
49
France .
Victor Prudhomme
Jean Lonis Vignes
John Domingo
Germany
Jolin Davis
40
Norway
John Wilson
36
Afrien.
Jack -
38
In 1837 several societies were organized in the American States to prinnote emigration to the Pacific coast. During that and ensuing years, thousands of emigrants journeyed across the rocky and snowy mountains, enduring toils and hardships indescribable, to settle in California and Oregon. Others came ly way of Mexico or Cape Horn, and soon the valleys of the northern rivers were peopled by American agri- culturists; and the southern and coast towns by American traders, who speedily monopolized the whole business of the country, and even in some communities formed the numerical strength of the white population. Against such influx the
Mexican Government, like a chained lion, fulminate I furious proclainations, It was wholly powerless to enforce them.
For the following notes regarding the American and foreign pioneers of Los Angeles county prior to the american wrap- fon, we are largely indebted to the good memory ant kind oflives of Hon. 1. J. Warner, so often quotaal. We have also consulted all others of that period, now living in the county. either personally or by letter, and many of the relations of those deceased. While we do not pretend to mention all who were here under Mexican rule, for that were impossible at this late day, we feel assured that the information we have col- lected and here present, is in the main correct. We have classed these persons as nearly as may be in the order of their arrival in the county.
HIONEERS OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.
SANTIAGO MeKINLY, a native of Scotland, arrived in Los Angeles during the year 1824. He was at that time twenty- one years of age. He became a merchant, and his name appears on a list of foreigners resident in Los Angeles in 1836, now on lile in the city archives. lle afterward went to Monterey, and was reported dead some years ago.
JOHN TEMPLE, who may justly rank as the pioneer merchant of Los Angeles, was a native of Reading, Mass., and for several years prior to his advent on this coast resided at the Sandwich Islands. He came to Los Angeles abont the year 1827, and forming a partnership with George Kice, opened the first store of general merchandise ever established in the pueblo. They did business in an adobe building on Main street, where the Downey Hock now stands. The firm dissolved partnership abont 1830 or '31, Mr. Temple continning the business alone until 1845 or '46, when he engaged in real estate speculation. Imilling and ranching, for some years; becoming one of the most extensive landholders and stock owners in the county. Later he leased the government mint in the city of Mexico for ten years, and so valuable was the contract considered, that he refused $1,000,000 offered by an English company therefor. About the year 1$30 he erected the nucleus of what is now the " Downey Block," at first of adobe, but afterward changed it to brick. Abont 1857-8 he built a large part of the present " Temple Block." He also built the present City Hall. About 1830 he married Dona Rafaela Cota, a native lady. He died at San Francisco May 30, 1866, aged 70 years. His widow survives him, and has for some time resided in Paris, which city was also Mr. Temple's home for several years.
GEORGE RICE, a native of New England, came to Los Angeles about the year 1827, from the Sandwich Islands, and was for some time a partner of John Temple in the mercantile business. After dissolution of their firm, he continued in buisiness on his
own account in the block on Main street, between Downey Block and the Cosmopolitan Hotel About the year 1530, he married a la ly namel Lopez, in los Angeles, and some live years later removed East with his family. Reported doand.
J. D LEANDRY, a native of Italy, settled in los Angeles ahont the year 1827. He opened a store near the phiza, on Nigger alley, an I some years later purchased an interest in The San Pedro Ranch, with one Johnson as partner. He resided here for some time, and then purchased the Rancho Los Coyotes. where he lived until his death in 1812.
JESSE FERGUSON, an American, came to los Angeles from New Mexico, by way of Gila river, in company with R. Laughlin and N. M. Prvor, nhoout the year ES2S. He con Jueted a store on Main street, near Second, for Wm. G. Dann. of Santa Barbara. He married in Los Angeles n Miss Randon, and about the year 1535 went to Lower Californin, where he died a few years later.
RICHARD LAUGHLIN, about the year 1828, came as a trapper Trum New Mexico, by way of Gila river, in company with Jesse Ferguson, N. M Pryor, and others. He went first to Lower California, where he and his party were arrested by the authorities, probably for trapping without n license. I 1829 he reached Los Angeles, where he worked at his trade of carpenter and joiner, occasionally trapping and hunting also. Finally he started a vineyard on the east side of Ala meda street, and married a native lady, by whom he had several ch He died about the year 1833.
NATHANIEL M PRYOR was an American, and came to Los Angeles with Richard Langhlin's party in 1828 9. Hy trade he was a silversmith, and divided his time between this busi- ness and otter hunting. Ile was also at one time in the employ of Abel Stearns, at San Pedro and in Los Angeles, as warehouse-keeper. He married Dona Sepulveda, in Los Au- geles, and subsequently purchased all the property extending from Aliso street to First, on Alameda. There he resided with his family, and died there in May, 1850, leaving several descendants still resident in the county.
ABEL STEARNS, a native of Salem, Mass, spent consider- alle time in Mexico, and settled in Los Angeles as a merchant, in the year 1828. He married Dona Arcadia, daughter of Don Juan Bandini. He obtained large grants of land throughout the territory, and accumulated much wealth. He was a member of the Constitutional Convention, 1849, and of the State Legis- latur, 1851; also 1861. He died at San Francisco, August 23, 1871. His widow subsequently married Col. R. S. Baker- residence, Los Angeles.
LOUIS BOCCHETTE was a native of France, and came to Los Angeles abont 1828 or '29. He purchased a small vineyard
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14
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335
14
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513
HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
34
HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
near where the Sisters' school now is, and cultivated it up to the time of his death. He resided where the Baker Block now stands. Died October 23, 1847. His widow still resides in the city.
MICHAEL, WHITE, a native of Kent, England (1801). Emi- grated to Lower California in 1817, aud remained about a year, after which he spent some eight years as a sailor ou various trading vessels in the California gulf; thence to the Sandwich Islands, in 1826, where he remained a year, and in 1828 returned to the Californian coast as commander of the Irrig Dolly. He remained at Santa Barbara until the fall of 1829, when he went to San Pedro to assist in saving the wrecked brig Danube. Ile remanied here until 1839, when he went to New Mexico, and returned two years later with the Wilson and Rowland party. Has ever since resided in Los Angeles, and still resides there. Was at one time quite wealthy.
JOHN DOMINGO, a Hollander by birth, was carpenter on the brig Danube, which was wrecked in the harbor of San Pedro in 1829. Ile remained in Los Angeles and worked at his trade. Ife purchased property opposite where the Baker block now stands, and here resided with his family, having married a Miss Feliz of Los Angeles. He subsequently planted a vineyard on Alameda street, near Aliso, and lived there until his death, December 18, 1858. He left a numerous family, and many warm friends.
" PORTUGUESE GEORGK" was a native of Portugal. He set- tled in Los Angeles at an early day, prior to 1831, and possi- bly before 1830. But little is known of him save that he married a native woman, and died there many years ago.
ANTONIO ROCHA was here, and married to a native lady named Alvarado, when Colonel Warner came in 1831. He was a native of Portugal -- a gunsmith by trade, and was at one time in the employ of San Gabriel Mission. He died in Los Angeles several years ago.
SAMUEL PRENTISS, a native of Rhode Island, was a sailor, who deserted from an American man-of-war in South America, and was subsequently one of the crew of the American brig Danube. When she was wrecked at San Pedro (1830 31) he came to Los Angeles, and from that time spent his life on this coast, hunting and fishing. He died on the island of Santa Catalina, about the year 1865, and was there buried.
JONATHAN TRUMBULL WARNER (better known as Don Juan J. Warner) was born in the town of Lyme. New London county, Connecticut, November 20, 1807. In the fall of 1830 he left his native State for Illinois, and remained there until the spring of 1831, when he removal to St. Louis, Missouri. In April, 1831, he entered the service of Jedediah S. Smith,
who was then fitting out an expedition for Santa Fé, New Mexico. On their way ont the leader, Smith, was killed by Indians, but the remainder of the party arrived safely, and remained from July till September, selling goods. In Sep- tember of that year he took service with Jackson, Wahlo &. Yonng, trappers and traders, and accompanied them to Cali- fornia, arriving there in November, following.
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