USA > California > Los Angeles County > History of Los Angeles County, California, with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, residences, fine blocks and manufactories > Part 11
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He first entered Los Angeles December 5, 1831. At that period nearly the whole town was comprised between the junction of Spring and Main streets on the south, and the cross street next to the plaza on the north. There were only three or fonr hunses north of these bounds. The furthest house south on Spring street was that now nsed by the mayor as an office ; the furthest one south on Main street was about Second street. There was not a house on the east side of Alameda street, and but few east of Los Angeles street; there were no houses west of Main and Spring streets. The houses were all of adobe-one story only in height. Three or fonr of these were covered with tiles manufactured at San Gabriel, the rest had flat roofs covered with bred (asphaltum). this time Los Angeles had less than one thousand inhabitants, At and these with but few exceptions, all Mexicans, Indians, and half-breeds. There were a few Americans and Europeans, (other than Spanish), and of these he remembers the following:
John Temple. American
William Wolfskill
George Rice.
Samuel J. Shields
John Rhea. .
Richard Langhlin
Nathaniel Pryor.
Jesse Ferguson
Samuel Prentiss.
Louis Bouchet
Frenchman
John Domingo Hollander
Portuguese George. Portuguese
Mocho Dan. .
Irish
The summer of 1832 was spent by Mr. Warner in hunting otter along the Californian coast and among the islands adja- cent thereto-from San Pedro to Point Conception. In the fall of 1833 he settled in Los Angeles, and during 1834-5 acted as clerk for Abel Stearns and John Temple successively. During 1836-7-8 he was engaged in mercantile business, part of that time being associated with Henry Mellus. Their place of business was on Main street, on the lot now occupied by Myers & Co. Ill health compelled him finally to retire from business, and for several years he remained in Los Angeles an invalid. In 1840 he visited the East. and in a lecture on California delivered at Rochester, N. Y., and afterward at
Upper Middletown, Connectieut, advanced and demonstrat,l the proposition that the trade of Europe and the Atlantic States, could be carried across the continent by rail more advantageously than by ship ennal at Panama. This is claimed to have been the first suggestion of that great enter- prise now known as "the Transcontinental Railroad."
In the fall of 1843 Mr. Warner went to San Diego and settled upon what has since licen known as " Warner's ranch." In 1851-2 he represented that county in the State Senate. In 1857 he returned to Los Angeles, where he has since resided. From March 1858 to June 1860 he published the Los Angeles Southern Vineyard; and in the last-named year was member of the Assembly from this county. In 1876 he was appointed U. S. Register in Bankruptcy for the Southern District, which office he still holds.
In the year 1836, at San Luis Rey, Mr. Warner married Dona Anita Gale, by whom he had five children of whom two are now living. Mrs. Warner died in Los Angeles in 1858.
EWING YOUNG was a native of Tennessee, and for a nnm- ber of years was engaged in New Mexico trapping beaver. In 1828-9 he visited California; trapped on Tulare lake, the San Joaquin river and tributaries; returned to New Mexico about 1830, and fitted out the Wolfskill party, with whom he came to Los Angeles. In 1836 he settled in Oregon, and became quite wealthy dealing in stock. He died there some thirty years ago.
WILLIAM WOLFSKILL was born March 20, 1798, near Rich- mond, Kentucky. Until the year 1831 he roamed through the great West as a hunter and trapper. In February of that year he reached Los Angeles with a number of others, and here the party broke up. Aided by Friar Sanchez, then in charge of San Gabriel Mission, he, in company with Nathaniel Pryor, Richard Laughlin, Sanmel Prentiss, and George Yount (all Americans) built a sehooner at San Pedro for the purpose of hunting sea-otter. This vessel they named the Refugio. They made but one trip in her, and meeting with only poor success, sold her. He next turned his attention to pomology and horticulture at Los Angeles, and planted his first vineyard in 1838. In 18+1 his first orange orchard was planted. From this period he devoted his life to these industries, assisted for a time by his brother John, who reached Los Angeles in 1837 Mr. Wm. Wolfskill died at Los Angeles October 3. 1966, leav- ing four children. His wife, Dona Magdalena Lugo, died before him-July 6, 1862. At the time of his death Mr Wolfskill's Los Angeles property was stocked with some sixty thousand bearing vines, two thousand orange and lemon tree also bearing, and a large assortment of miscellaneous fruits He was the owner of much real estate in Los Angeles county.
WASHINGTON GARDEN
AI, AICULTURAL PARN
RESIDENDE OF ISAIAS W. HELLMAN. COR. MAIN & FOURTH STS LOS ANGELES, CAL.
PUBLISHED BY THOMPSON & WEST
35
HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
including the ranches Santa Anita and Azusa; he also owned large tracts in other parts of the State.
LOUIS VIGNES was a native of France, and in 1831 came to Los Angeles by way of the Snuddwich Islands, bringing with him a stock of devotional ornaments and trinkets, which he disposed of to the missions and people at such good protits that he became quite wealthy. He was long familiarly known as " Old Aliso" from his ownership of the Aliso vineyard. In 1851 he offered this property for sale, and in his advertisement states: " There are two orange gardens that yield from five thousand to six thousand oranges in the season. The vine. yard, with forty thousand vines, thirty- two thousand now bear- ing grapes, will yield one thousand barrels of wine jor ammmmm, the quality of which is well known to be superior." Ile is believed to be the first who planted oranges in Los Angeles bringing his cuttings from San Gabriel. The date of his death does not appear. The old afino (sycamore) tree still stands an ancient landmark of the city, and is supposed to be centuries of age.
JOSEPH HOWMAN (usually known as Joaquin Bowman) was a Kentuckian, and one of Jedediah S. Smith's party of 1831. He became miller for the mission of San Gabriel soon after his arrival, and retained that position until his death, several years later.
JOHN RIKA was a untive of North Carolina, and emigrated to New Mexico nbont 1828 9; thence to California as one of Wolfskill's party, in 1831 He remained in Los Angeles, where he kept a sakum and grocery, also a billiard room. He at one time owned the lot whereon the Cosmopolitan Hotel now stands. In 1836 he sold ont his property to William Wolfskill, and returned Kast. He is reported dead.
WILLIAM DAY, nn American, was a member of the same party (JJededinh S. Smith's) which Col. J. J. Warner accom- panied to New Mexico. He reached Los Angeles in 1831, with Jackson's or Carson's party, and settled there, keeping a small groggery near the Catholic church. He died in Sonora some years later.
JOHN WARD was born in Richmond, Virginia, in 1765, from whence he removed with his parents while yet a chill. He took part in the battle of New Orleans, being then resident at that place. Soon after the opening of Mexican territory to foreigners, le entered Santa Fe. his being the first American wagon train to that point. He visited Los Angeles in 1832, stayed two years and returned to Missouri. In 1843 he re-entered California by the Gila river route, in the first eastern carriage ever seen in the territory. In 1846 he left here for Chihuahua, but again returned in 1849. He died at. Los Angeles, 1859.
DANIEL RICE, an American, wa- a carpenter by trade, and came to Los Angeles about 1532 or 33. He marriedI here a Miss Romers, about 1935-6, and died
JOSEPH PAWLDING was a native of Maryland, and entered California from New Mexico in the winter of 1932 3, by way of the Gila river. He afterward traveled a good deal in Inth countries. Ile was a carpenter by trade, and made the first two billiard tables ever made in California, the first for theurge Rice, and the second for John Thea. He died at Los Angeles. Inne 2, ISCH.
Isaac WILLIAMS, a native of New York for Pennsylvania , came to California in 1832. He owned the Chine Ranch, and resided there with his family in September, 1516, when Capt. Benjamin D. Wilson and company were there captured by the Mexicans, nuder Varela. Mr. Wilson has left on record, that Williams, in that atfair, played the disgraceful part of a traitor to his native flag, selling into captivity and probable death countrymen who were at the time his guests, whom he lind long known as near neighbors, and to whom he professed fealty and friendship, while planning and carrying out their ruin. Ile died at his rauch, Sept. 13, 1856.
MOSES CARSON, a brother of the celebrated scont. Kit Carson, enme to Los Angeles in March, 1832. He followed trapping for some years; was also connected with the warehouse at. San Pedro. lle finally removed to Russian river, and is reported
LEMUEL. CARPENTER, of Missouri, is represented as having heen one of Wolfskill's party in 1831 Historical Sketch of L. A. Co .. p. 19), but. Col. Warner says this is a mistake, and that he came from New Mexico by way of Sonora in 1832 or '33, in company with Chard, Pawkling, Ward and some others, He established a soap factory on the right bank of the San Gabriel river, not far from the present road to Los Nietos. He sulise- ¿quently purchased the Santa Gertrude's Ranch, and resided there until his death. Owing to financial troubles he com- initted suicide Nov. 6, 1859.
WILLIAM CHARD is said to have been one of Wolfskill's party in 1831 (Historical Sketch of L. A. Co., p. 19), but Col. Warner says this is a mistake, and that he did not reach Los Angeles until 1832 or '33, with asmall party Carpenter, Pawh- ing, Ward and others), who came through from New Mexico ly way of Sonora. He was a butcher, and did quite an exten- sive business. He also sawed the lumber for Stearn's house. In company with Lemnel Carpenter he subsequently planted a vineyard on the east side of Alameda street, opposite the Wolf- skill place. After some years he removed to the Sacramento valley, and is reported dead.
JACOR P. LEECE, an American, came to Los Angeles from
New Mexico in the winter of 1833, and remained about two Years, going into business (general merchandise) with Win. Keith and Hugh Reid. From here he went to Monterey, and there established a house, with Nathan Spear and W. S. Hinckley as partners In July. 1836, he erceted the first Imilling at Yerba Burun, now San Francisco, nud opened a store. He was the sound white settler at that place, Capt. W. A. Richardson having preceded him the year previous. In April following be married a sister of General M. G. Vallejo, at that place, and in ISHI removed to Sonoma. Reported dead.
JAMES JOHNSON, an Englishman, came to Los Angeles from Sonora by water, in 1833, with a cargo of Chinese and Movi- can goods. After disposing of these he returned to Sonora, and in 1535 brought his family here to live. Shortly after- ward he purchased the San Pedro Rauch und stock (some 12,000 hvad of cattle from M. Gutierrez, and lived there for some years as a cattle rancher. He" subsequently removed to Los Angeles, and engaged in the warehouse and forwarding business at San Pedro. He died prior to 1862.
HUGH REID, a native of Scotland, come to Los Angeles iu 1835, and was a merchant there in company with Win. Keith and Jacob P' Lecce. He had formerly resided in New Mexico, and disappointment in a love affair while there is supposed to have soured him. He is said to have been very cecentric, and tinally retired to Sau Gabriel, where he married au lundian woman, and devoted himself to the study of the aborigines. fle has left to posterity some very valuable essays on the lan- guage, history, customs, und legends of the Fabuilla lundiaus, which we have made use of in preparing our chapter on " The Aborigines." He at que time owned the Santa Anita Ranch, and also a large part of the property subsequently acquired by Mr. B. D. Wilson, and now hell by that gentleman's wilow, aud by his son-in-law, J. De Bath Shorb, Esq. Mr. Reid died at Los Angeles, December 12, 1852.
WILLIAM KEITH, an American, was a physician, who came from Sonora to Los Angeles about 1835. Here he went into partnership with Jacob P. Leece and Hugh Reid, and these three opened a store. He returned to Sonora afterward, Imt came back to Los Angeles about 1849, when he went to the undd mines with a quantity of goods, and settled somewhere in the upper country. Reported dead.
L. V. PRUDHOMME was a native of France, and arrived in Los Angeles in 1835. He was a worker in wood (cabinet maker and cooper). He married a native lady named Tapia, who was at one time part owner of the Cucamonga Ranch. He died May 8, 1871.
HENRY MELLUS, a native of Boston, Mass., came to this coast in the brig Pilgrim, made famous by Richard 11. Dana in
36
HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
his "Two Years before the Mast," 1835-6. At first Mr. Mellus acted as a common sailor, but was promoted to the berth of supercargo's clerk, and subsequently remained on shore as agent's clerk. Here be settled, married a Mexican lady, and on Mr. Dana's return, twenty-four years later, he fond his old companion a prominent citizen, and was by him driven around to view the memoralde scenes of "hide-droghing times." Mr. Mellus was elected mayor of Los Angeles in May' 1860, and died while holding that office, on December 26 fol- lowing his election. He was a brother of Francis Mellos.
ISAAC GRAHAM was a native of Tennessee. Early in life he went to New Mexico, and Benjamin D. Wilson met him at T'aos. Mr. Wilson has described him as being at that time a very disreputable character. He also says that Graham left a family in Tennessee, being obliged to flec that State to escape the consequences of some offence he had committed. He reached Los Angeles in company with Henry Naile about 1835, and remained there until the following year, when he removed to the " Natividad" Monterey county, and (according to Mr. Wilson) " established a small distillery in a tule hut, which soon became a nuisance owing to the disreputable character of those who frequented it." He was finally arrested (1840) on a charge of conspiracy against the government of Alvarado, anıl in company with a number of others, was sent to Mexico to be tried. Two years later these persons were returned to Cali- forvia, the charges not having been proven; and Mexico was obliged to pay them a heavy indemnity to avoid serious com- plication with the American Government. Graham died seve- ral years ago.
CHARLES HIALL was a native of Massachusetts, and came to Los Angeles prior to 1836. He was a merchant, but failed ; and was subsequently in the employ of John Temple. He was dead in 1862.
JOIN MARSH, a physician, came to Los Angeles from New Mexico about 1836, with a party of traders. He practiced medicine for some years after his arrival, and finally located on a ranch near Mount Diablo, where he was subsequently mur- dered.
.JOHN REED, a native of Missouri or No. th Carolina, came to Los Angeles about 1837. While in New Mexico' he married a daughter of John Rowland, and on his arrival here, engaged in ranching at La Puente. He enlisted in the American army of 1846, and took part in all the battles fought on the march from San Diego to Los Angeles. He died at La Puente July 11, 1874, aged 56 years. (There is possibly a mistake about the date of Mr. Reed's arrival, as Benjamin D. Wilson claimed him as one of his party in 1841). His widow resides at La Puente.
FRANCIS MELLI'S, of Salem, Mass., followed his brother
Henry to Los Angeles. He came here in the employ of Boston merchants, and landed at Santa Barbara January 3, 1839. He was for some years a partner of David W. Alexander in mer- cantile matters (1850-56), and died in Los Angeles city Septem- her 19. 1863. He was married to Miss Adelaida Johnson, who survived him, with seven children.
JOHN ROWLAND came to Los Angeles in the fall of 1841, as leader of a party from New Mexico. He was a partner of William Workman at Santa Fe, and subsequently joint-owner with him of the Puente ranch, where he died October 14, 1873, aged 82 years. The following is a translation of a Spanish document on file in the Los Angeles city archives :--
" List of the persons who accompanied the undersigned on his arrival in the Territory of Upper California :-
William Workman /
. William Gordon and families.
James D. Meade, Physician. Benjamin D. Wilsou. Knight. Jacob Frankfort, Tailor. William Campbell, Naturalist.
Thomas Lindsay, Mineralogist.
Hiram Taylor, Musician.
Wade Hampton, Gunsmith. Isaac Giveus, Engineer. John McClure. James Dokex.
L. Lyman, Physician. Daniel Sinton. Carpenter. Albert G. Tibiana.
---- Batchelder, Cooper. Francis Bedebry, Carpenter. Francis Gwinp, Blacksmith.
Michael Wbite. Juan Manuel Bara {
Lorenzo Trujillo and families.
Ygnacio Salazar and servants. - Tomes. C'arpenter. William Moon, Cooper.
Each one with his fire-arm, which is needed for defense on the journey.
Those with families have come with the intention of settling in this Department, and those who have trades, in pursuit of employment, and some of the others to see and examine this Department with a view of settling now, or of returning after they go back to their country.
JOHN ROWLAND.
COPY. Office of the First Justice of the Peace, Los Angeles, Feb- ruary 29, 1842.
MANL. DOMINGUEZ."
BENJAMIN DAVIS WILSON was born December 1, 1811, in Nashville, Tennessee. At fifteen years of age he went into busi- ness for himself at Yazoo City, above Vicksburg. He traded here with the Choctaw and Chickasaw Indians, until compelled to leave by bad health, when he went to Fort Smith-an out- post up the Arkansas river. From here he went to Missouri, and joining the Rocky Mountain Fur Company, crossed the plains with them. In the fall of 1833, he reached Santa Fé, and here joined a trapping party bound for the Gila river, and Apache country, to trap beaver. This expedition met with considerable success, and in the spring of 1835, he returned
to Santa Fe. He now fitted out a company himself, and went back to the Gila. In one of these expositions be discovered a ruined town, and many evidences of a past civilization, wholly unaccountable to the Mexicans.
At this time the Apaches were on the best of terms with American frontiersmen, and their chief-Juan Jow-a well- educated man, was frequently in Mr. Wilson's camp. On the other hand, a deadly fend existed between the Apaches and Mexicans; and the Americans, trapping in the Mexican country without anthority, there was, to some extent, a feeling of " common cause" between them and the Apaches. About this time the Mexicans procured one James Johnson (an American), assisted by a man named Gleason, to betray and murder the chief, Juan Jose. In retaliation the Apaches massacred a party of American trappers under Charles Kemp, and then took Mr. Wilson and two com- panions prisoners, with the avowed object of putting them also to death. By connivance of the new chief, Mangas, Mr. Wilson was allowed to escape. He was pursued by the infu- riated warriors on horseback, but succeeded in making cover before daylight. By forced inarches, almost wholly without food, and nearly naked, he succeededI in eluding the savages. and reached Santa Fé (over 100 miles distant), entirely desti- . tute .* Two days later he conducted a party to "Point of Rocks," 150 miles south of Santa Fe on the El Paso road, and buried the remains of twelve men tbere slain by the Indians
He now spent some time in Santa Fe merchandising for other parties. The good chief, Mangas, afterwards visited him there, and long partook of his bounty. In 1837. a revolution broke out in this town; Governor Percy and many others were murdered. and the mob carried the heads of their victims through the streets on poles, crying, " Death to the Americans; death to the gringos! " Mr. Wilson and six other Americans concealed them- selves until peace was restored, but only escaped through the good offices of an Indian chief named Pedro Leon, who was friendly to Mr. Wilson.
Mr. Wilson now bought out the stock of goods he had hitherto taken charge of, and remained in Santa Fé until the fall of 1841. Finding that the hatred felt for Americans made it unsafe to remain longer in New Mexico, he, in company with John Rowland. Wir. Workman, William Gordon, William Wright, and others to the number of about forty, started overland for California early in September. They drove sheep with them for food. and all reached Los Angeles in safety, about two months later. These others came to settle, but Mr. Wilson's plan was
*Johnson's treachery met with its just reward. The Mexican Gies. Froment never paid kim the agress "blood money." and to escape the vengeance of the Apaches, he thel to California, where he livet and died in obscarity and poverty. Me. Wilson warned subsequently that the two com. panions he left sick at the Apache catap had also escapel.
RESIDENCE OF H.W. HELLMAN, Nº 3, 4TH ST LOS ANGELES, CAL.
PUBLISHED BY THOMPSON & WEST.
37
HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
to visit ('hius, and from there return home. Failing, however, to procure a ship for China, he finally purchased the Jurupa Ranch, stocked it with cattb., auml settled down at the place where Riverside now stands, to the life of a rancher
In 1844, he married Dona Ramona Yorba, daughter of Don Bernardo Yorlm, one of the owners of the Santa Ana Ranch. In the fall of that your he was severely wounded by a grizzly bear (which had slain one of his cows, while tracking it through the woods. Upon recovering from his wonmls he ambuscaded the hear, wounded him, and in a general hunt next day, killed the Ferocious beast, but a second there narrowly escaped death. In Ulm fall of 1845, he took charge of an expedition into the Majave country to punish marauding Indians. On their way his party camped at a lake where the bears were so nigerons that. twenty-two men Inssoud eleven in one evening, anl the same feal was repeated on their way home, making twenty- two bears killed on the trip. Hence, he named this " Bear Lake." which uame it his ever since reta ned.
During this campaign he was severely wounded by an Indian outlaw named Joaquin, with a poisoned arrow, Int killed his adversary in the encounter; and his own life was saved by an Indian servant who sucked the wound. After resting and relit- ting, Mr. Wilsou marched his command into the Calmilla country in search of two renegade mission Indians, who were comunit- ting depredations on the ranchers. Taking the chief, "Carbe- zon" (Big Head), a prisoner, he succeeded in inducing the tribe to deliver up the bends of the outlaws. He then organized a second expedition against the Mojaves and sneceeded in killing a number of men and bringing in many women nud children captives. These had all formerly been mission ne phytes, and were now returned to San Gabriel Mission.
In 1845, he raised a company to assist in the defense of Los Angeles against Micheltorena, and was one of the two cuibas- saudors who, under a flag of true», succeeded in winning Michel- torena's American force over to the side of Governor Pico, the result being Micheltorena's abandonment of hostilities and mubarkation at. San Pedro next day.
Upon the breaking out of war with the United States, Mr. Wilson was ordered by Governor Pico to raise a com- pany and prepare for active service against the Americans; but. this he refused to do, on the ground that he was him- self an American citizen. Ile was threatened with arrest, but on sending his parole was allowed to remain prace- ably on his ranch, He refused Governor Pico's friendly offer to grant him any large tract of land in the State he might desire: and bore that gentleman's parting compliments to Com- modore Stockton. He accompanied the Commodore into Los Angeles (the army following in the evening), and not a blow was struck. Com. Stockton, some days later, handed him his commission as Captain, and detailed him to watch the frontier,
and gnard against a surprise from the Mexican General, L'astro. To aid him in this duty, Mr. Wilson organized a company of twenty-two Americans. After some time, everything appear- ing to Ir safe in that neighborhood, he took his company into the mountains on a hunt, and while thus engagel. learned of the revolt by the natives against Lientenant Gillespie, whom Stockton had left in charge of Los Angeles. Mr. Wilson now repaired to his Jnrupa Ranch, and there received a letter from Col. Isaac Williams, of the t'hino Ranch, inviting him and his party there, and promising them plenty of ammunition. This proved to be a piece of treachery on William's part, and while here the Americans were surrounded by a native force under Varela, who tired the billing in which they had fortified themselves, and compelled a smrender of the whole party. From this time until the re-occupation of los Angeles by Stockton and Kearney, Mr. Wilson mal the other Americans were held prisoners. After the re-occupation. he performed many signal services for the American com- manders, and aided, perhaps, more than any other man in southern California, in restoring peace aml good feeling between the Americans and natives.
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