USA > California > Los Angeles County > History of Los Angeles County, California, with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, residences, fine blocks and manufactories > Part 37
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Orry OFFICERS from 1850 tn 1880.
VIRES 1858 1867 1870-1871-1874 ~1873-1876-1877 -- 1870.
FIRE COMPANIES Thirty Eights- Confidence-Park Hose-Vigilance. Orry WATER- History of, 1850 to ISSO.
Unrryxs -- Catholic ('Imk-Fort St. M. K. Church-First Baptist Church -African M. K. Chorrh - First Presbyterian Church-St. Athanasius Episcopal Church -- First. Protestant Society-L'ongregation Bni Brith- -First Congregational t'harch -German Missimo of the M. E. Church- Church of Pheist - Chinese Mission -- Unitarian Church-Trinity M. E. Church South.
SMIEMIES-L. A. Lodge No. 42, F. & A. M .- L. A. Chapter No. 33, R. A. M. Pentalpha Lodge No. 202, F. & A. M .- D'oeur de Lion Congammlery No. y, Kuights Templar- Araria Chapter No. 21, Onler of the Eastern Star-L. A. Lodge Nn. 35, I. O. O. V. - Fadden Rule Lodge No. 160, 1. O. O. F .- Sunth Star, Degree Lodge, No. 7, I. O. O. F .- Hebrew Benevolat Society Mrchaoies' Institute -Y. M. Social Assembly-Harmony Club-Ger. mania Turn. Verrin -French Bedevaleat Society-B. C. 85, Union League of America 1. 0, theml Templars-Mechanics' Eight Hour League- Southern Pacific 'lub-St. Patrick's Benevolent Society-L. A. Council No. 11. R. & N. M .- L. A. Co. Medical Association-St. Andrew's Society Ancient Jewish Order K. S. B .-- L. A. Social Club -- L. A. Musical Asso- riation S. C. Farmers' Unim -- L. A. Chamber of Commerce-Irish L. & $ ('Inh Kidights af Pythins-Spanish Am. Benevolent Society-Ancient Order of liberidans- S. C. Hortienitural Society-L. A. Phialetics --- Ladies Benevolvat Society -Italian Mutual Benevolent Society -- 1 .. A. Free Disprusavy-Frank Bartlett Post U. A. R. - L .. A. Bar Association Ancient Undler United Worknen-Ivy Social Club-Owl Dramatic Club Her Men . Veterans of Mexican War-Catholic Ab. Society-Grangers. MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS -- 14. A. Hangers-L. A. Gnarls-French Zonaves- tinacdin Zaragiza-Washington Gnards-City Gnards-Ringgold's Light Artillery-Twist's Hitle Co, French lafantry Corps-Southern Ritles- 1 .. A. Grays Moore's C'u. -- Native California Co.
PrELI INSTITI TIONS-County Hospital and Alms House-Public Library As- sociation-County Jail-City Schools-Cemeteries-Banks and Ranking- Hotels.
The following is a list of the ranches in Los Angeles town- ship, with their respective acreage, and the name of the person to whom each was confirmed by the United States Courts, after the American occupation :--
NAMES.
APERS.
TO WIDIM CONFIRMED.
Pueblo, City of Los Angeles. Kanchu, Tajunga ..
17,172 33.100
6,660 7S. JOU
David W. Alexander et al.
San Rafael
36,403 37-100
Julio Berdlagn, et al.
Provolencia.
4,064 33-100
David W. Alexander, et al.
=
La Canada
5,832 10-100
Jonathan R. Seutt
and Benjamin Hayes,
Los l'elis.
6,647 46-100
Maria Ygracia Berlugn,
LOS ANGELES CITY.
In a former chapter (VI) we have reviewed the early history of Los Angeles City to some extent, and the total absence of ah records for the first half century preclude the possibility of our carrying the inquiry further during that time. The most ancient record extant among the city archives is a manuscript pamphlet, containing the debit and credit account of Guillermo Cota, (then alcalde) of all the city revenues and disbursements for the year 1827. This book shows that the payments for that year amounted to $478.25. The fines imposed during the same year amounted to $119.25.
A small manuscript pamphlet of ahout a dozen leaves, con- tains the account of licenses issned in 1835. During the month of April that year, there were seven bar-rooms, thirteen stores, and one hilliard table in Los Angeles. In May there were cight bar-rooms; in August six bar-rooms, eleven stares, and one billiard room. The license for maintaining a har-room was 50 cents per month, and for a store or billiard room, $1.00 per month.
In 1835 Alexander Forbes wrote regarding the town (Forbes' California, page 207) :---
The principal pueblo is Nuestra Senora de los Angeles, situated about eight miles from the mission of San Gabriel, and about twenty miles from a roadsteal on the Pacific called San Pedro. The popula- tion of the town is about fifteen hundred. It has an alcalde or mayor, three regidores aud a syndico; this compases its Ayuntamiento, or Town Council. The vicinity is occupied by vineyards and maize felds; and as the lands are level and highly fertile, it is capable of great agricul- tural improvement. This town has been proposed as the capital of the country ; and as the Spaniards have in their colonies always chosen an inland situation for their capital towns, this seheme might have been adopted if the country had remained in their hands; hut it is to be presumed that Monterey will, under the present circumstances, be con- sidered as the capital until a population shall arise on the Bay of San Francisco, when. from its superiority as a harbor, the capital town will ultimately. no doubt, be fixed there.
In 1836 the pueblo (town) was created into a ciudad (city). and in this year the first written land grants were made. In this year, also, it was created the capital of California, and was the seat of Government thenceforth until 1846.
At the time of the American occupation, the houses of the city were principally of adobe, with a very few frame ones, but none of brick. The population numbered about two thou- sand, and of these, not over one hundred were foreigners. The following is a list of the city archives which came into the hands of the American Government at that time, as given by the News of May 20, 1871 :-
THE CITY ARCHIVES IN 1847-INVENTORY OF THE PAPERS ANDI FURNITURE BELONGING TOTHE AYUNTAMIENTO OF LOS ANGELES.
1. An inventory of the goods of Llon Carlos Bario. deceased.
2. Judgment of arbitration in the matter of Rafael Martinez
3. Surrender of the goods of Augustin Martin & Co.
4. Agreement of Don Leonardo Cota and Ixon Inis Altamiran. 5. Contract made between Dona Maria Vellalobos and Don Luis Bauehette, concerning the goods of Tapia, deceased.
6. A bundle of papers, petitions for land.
7. License from the Bishop to Don Iguacio del Valle to erect a muu- ument to his wife.
8. Surrender of the goods of Don Demetrio Villa.
9. Copy of the inventory of Don Manuel Sepulveda.
10. Inventory of the goods of Don Luis Bauchetle, deceased.
CRIMINAL.
1. Inquiry concerning the death of Angel.
2. Examination to inquire into the death of Capt. Yerbariuna.
3. Criminal process against Antonio Valencia for adultery.
4. Ecclesiastical against Francisco and Juana.
5. Examination to inquire into the death of P'atalot.
6. Report of the investigation of the wounds af Jacinto Garcia.
7. Investigation of the suicide of the merchant, Ilon Angastin Martin.
8. Criminal, against. Ylario Ybarra.
9. Investigation to inquire into the burning of the house of Ber- nardo Lopez.
10. Against Joaquin Soto for homicide.
11. Papers in the case pending of Manuel Chapo.
OTHER DOCUMENTS.
Protests of This year, 1847; one book of arbitrations; three books of minutes; ane book of records of brands: one hook of the acts of the Aypuntumirato; one book al criminal records; ope volume of waste books; a box (withont feet) of silver, belonging to and on deposit from the mission of San Luis Rey: two pamphlets of atribu- ciones and arbitrations; accounts of the syndic of the present yrar, with all the vonchers.
FURNITURE AND OTHER PROPERTY.
One white wooden table: two benches of same material; two bot- tles of ink: two inkstands and a ruler; an ohl box with papers: two pairs of andirons iu the jail; two pairs of haudcutl's, with key; col. lections of papers of police, and other loose papers relating to pend- ing business.
Among the records now being overhauled by the clerk is a vol- uminous ordinance providing rules for the government of the .I yon- tamiento, and prescribing regulations for the transaction of busines. There has also been fonml a hst, dated 1852, of old papers at that time in the office of the Surveyar-General at the national capital. The list commences with a date of 1773, and comes down through fifty years. Among the papers meutioned is " Instructions given by the government for the establishment of the Pueblo de Nuestra Senora de los Angeles, on the river Porcinuenla," August 26, 1781. Another doemment shows that our city was directed to be established in 1777.
In the year 1850, Los Angeles City was duly incorporated see page 155, laws of 1850); we append a copy of the Act :--
*
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LLLLLLELLE
tELLE LILE
LI. t ELLE Z =
tt LILLELE
RESIDENCE OF H. K. SNOW.
RESIDENCE OF P. T. ADAMS,
GENERAL DIAGRAM OF ALISO ORANGE GROVE, PROPERTY OF SNOW & ADAMS, TUSTIN CITY, LOS ANGELES C9 CALIFORNIA.
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107
HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY CALIFORNIA.
CHAPTER GO.
An Act to incorporate the city of Los Angeles. Passed April 4, 1:50.
The people of the State of California, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows :-
SECTION 1. All that tract of land included within the limits of the Pueblo de Los Angeles, as heretofore known and acknowledged. shall henceforth be known as the city of Los Angeles, and the said city is hereby declared to be incorporated according to the provisions of the Act entitled "An Act to provide for the incorporation of cities," approved March 18, 1850. Provided, however, that if such limits incluide more than four square miles, the Council shall. within three withs after they are elected aud qualified, fix by ordinance the limits of the city, not to include more than said quantity of land, and the boundaries so determined shall henceforth be the boun- daries of the city.
FRC. 2. The number of Councilmen shall be seven; the first elec- tion of city officers shall be hell on the second Monday of May next.
SEC. 3. The corporation created by this Act, shall sncceed to all the rights, claims and powers of the Pueblo ile Los Angeles in regard to property, and shall be subject to all the liabilities incurred, and obli- gations created by the ayuntamiento of said pueblo.
According to Benjamin Hayes (Historical Sketch), Jobn Gregg Nichols was the first American boy born in the city- April 15, 1851. At this time the resident population was esti- mated at two thousand five hundred; but very few American families.
In January, 1852, the house occupied by Benjamin Hayes, under lease from Felipe Garcia, was sub Jet by him to the comnty for a Court House, for the balance of his term, expir- ing November 16, 1853. The sum of six hundred and fifty dollars was appropriated by order of Court of Sessions to pay the rent for the agreed term.
In 1833 there were only three large dry goods stores, and about a dozen others that kept a general assortment; say half a dozen grocery shops, and saloons in great variety. In this year the second survey of the city was made by H. Hancock. This was of thirty-five-acre donation lots, which were given away to actual settlers,
1855.
Under date January 4th, we read in the Stur :-
. The Christmas and New Year's festivals are passing away with the usual accompaniments : viz., bull-fights, bell-ringing, firing of crackers, festas, and fandangos. * * * * * *
It does not appear that the Liquor Ordinance has done inneb good so far. It went into effect im the 1st of December, over one month ago, and still the Indians get their lignor the same as ever. Negro alley is the principal resort of these Indians, especially on the Sabbath, when the little money they have been able to get the rest of the week. is spent for liquor.
Again in March we read :-
Washington's birthday was celebrated in Los Angeles by the City Guarda. The fine martial appearance of these citizen soldiers elicited the warmest poraire from the vast concourse of people who thronged the streets to witness their evolutions. * * * * * *
For the past two weeks Los Angeles bas presented an musual lively appearance, on account of the excitement existing relative to the Kern river mines. Every steamer brings down large numbers of
passengers from San Francisco. Our merchants have done a good business in supplying the miners.
+ +
+ +
AURI. 28tb-The large wagon train of Messrs. Alexander & Ban- ning and W. T. B. Sanford, E-g., left los Angeles April 27th. for Great Salt Lake City. The train comprises fifteen ten-mule teams with sixty thousand pounds of assorted merchandise, purchased especially for the trade in the Great Interior Basin.
We learn further that the Fourth of July was celebrated in social parties on some of the neighboring ranches. The City Guards paraded the principal streets, and escorted the me- bers of the Masonic Fraternity to the Lake Vineyard.
The Sons of Temperance, of Los Angeles, went to the Monte, and joined with the order at that place in celebrating the day with an oration, procession, and dinner.
The City Gaards gave a ball in the evening at their armory.
Ahont this time also, city improvements began to look up. We find the following editorial in the Star of September 29th:
CITY IMPROVEMENTS .- In spite of the hard times, many valuable stores, dwellings, and improvements will be made during the season. The excellent quality of briek that is being manufactured within the city limits, supply the place of adobes in a great measure, and are preferred by those who wish to make lasting improvements. Ilon. Abel Stearns and J. 1. Scott, Esq., have nearly completed a brick flouring mill, which will far surpass anything of the kind in the south- ern section of the State. Messrs. Foster & Wadhams have finished a block of three brick stores on the corner of Main and Coponercial streets, and Mr. . 1. Morris one adjoining. Mr. John Goller has com- pleted a brick carriage warehouse ... Don Juan Ramirez is building a large brick block on Alameda street, designed for stores and a printing oflice .... There are also many dwellings being erected in different parts of the city.
1856.
FEBRUARY 20 - Died in Los Angeles, George Thompson Burrill, formerly sheriff of the county.
Washington's birthday and the Fourth of July were both duly celebrated. November 20th was appointed by the Gov- ernor as a day of Thanksgiving, but the news not reaching Los Angeles in time, business went on as usual, to the chagrin of all, and some legal complications in the courts, regarding service of papers, etc. In December business was active and money plenty. December 21st, Bishop Amat arrived amid great ringing of bells, to dedicate anew the church which had been undergoing repairs.
1857.
In April, oysters and ice were chronicled as late innovations to the city. In May, a good many people were afflicted with putrid sore-throat, which proved fatal to some children. June 6th, the Stur says :-
The Star notes the following improvements to be made in the city : Don Juan Temple is about to erect a block of buildings on Main street, commencing at Pine's Hotel. Flashner & Bremermaun. of the Bella Union Hotel, are about to erect a two-story brick building ; their premises at present not affording sufficient accommodations. MIr. Beandry is preparing to creet a row of brick buildings on Los Angeles all Aliso streets.
Beaudry's block was finished in November.
In July the Fort Tejon Dramatic Association gave a repro- sentation in the city for the benefit of Mr. W. Abbott; the Fourth was celebrated with considerable spirit ; and on the 9th of that month, Dr. Olord Macy died. The anniversary of Mexican Independence was only celebrated in September. Throughout the fall, there was considerable trade with Kein river.
1858
During January the California Minstrels visited Los Angeles, and played to crowded houses for some days.
Under date January 31st, Mr. I. D. Barrows writes to the San Francisco Bulletin : --
There is a very general and growing desire for the abandonment of our city charter. It is of but little, if any use. We need no muyor, and the whole affairs of the county could be managed by the Supervisors. It seems absurd to have two sets of officers.
FEBRUARY 221-Washington's birthday was duly celebrated in Los Angeles. The Spaniards sprak of him as " Sin Hush- ington.“
In February, Colonel Kewen, of Walker filibustering fame, settled in Los Angeles to practice law.
On the evening of June Sth the citizens gave a grand jollifi- cation and complimentary ball in honor of Captain Seeley, or the steamship Senator.
July 5th a fite was given by the French citizens of Los Angeles in the grove of the Sansevaines. In the evening they paraded the streets singing the Marsellaisr. At night, there was a ball, lasting until the Following morning.
Aloout the middle of July, the workinen employed in exea- vating beneath the building of Mr. Chills, lately hurned, discovered a quantity of gold coin, variously estimated at from five hundred to live thon-and. This they appropriated, notwithstanding the owner of the ground laid claim to it, as having Iwen probably hidden by a dishonest clerk in his employ some years before.
In August the following new buildings are noticed in Los Angeles, as being in process of erection : Furniture warehouse of Perry Woodworth & Co. ; dry goods emporium of Lazard & Wolfskill ; store of Bachman & Co., now building ; para- chial builling of Catholic church, now bnikling.
September 27th cannon were fired during the day, fromn Fremont's redoubt overlooking the town, in honor of the snc- cessful laying of the first Atlantic cable.
October 7th the arrival of the pioneer semi-weekly overland stage, twenty-one days from the Mississippi river, was cele- hrated in Los Angeles with the firing of cannon and general joy. November 27th we read :-
The large block of stores which the Hon. A. Stearns is building on Los Angeles street, are eight in number; each twenty five feet front by
108
HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
eighty deep, two stories high, and four of them with basements. They are of brick and fire. looof.
Lee's cirens came to Los Angeles in December, and there wintered. The city vote this year was six hundred and eighty.
1859.
In January arrangements were made for the building of a market-house and City Hall. The plaza was also enclosed with a redwood fener, In February the market-house contract was let to J. Temple for thirty thousand dollars. The Common Council made arrangements to borrow two hundred thousand dollars for eity improvements. The market-house was com- mneneed in March. On the 23d of this month, a young man named Jean Deebroull, was accidentally shot and killed by a companion at the Montgomery restaurant. July Ist, Mr. M. Flasher, proprietor of the Bella Union Hotel, was thrown from his buggy and killed through his horse taking fright.
In September the market-house was finished, also Stearns' bloek of stores. The post office was removed to a building on Main street, and over four thousand letters had passed through it in the past quarter. Amusements were abundant, comprising-the Minstrels, Spanish theatre, Circus, French theatre, etc, etc.
October was marked by the arrival of the French Vice-Con- sul, M. Jacob A. Mocrenhant, in whose honor cannons were tired, etc. The city market was rented at four hundred and twenty-five dollars per month, and the stalls for one hundred and seventy-three dollars per month.
DECEMBER 27th-The Court House being in bad order and no better having been provided by the county, Judge Hayes, of The District Court, made an order directing the Sheriff to pro- eure suitable rooms for court room, jury room and judges' chambers.
December 29th we read ;-
The munber of brick buildings erected this year is thirty-one, which have required l'onr million three hundred thousand brick in their con- struction. The two-story Arcadia block belonging to Hon. Abel Stearns, although cuumting as one building, has eight large stores on the ground thur. There was med iu this block oue million oue hundred and fifty thousand brick. Temple's new two-story block, fronting on three streets, is another large building, the ground floor of which is designed for store, and the upper story for offices and balls. The number of Iwiek in this building is about five hundred thousand. The market- honse used two hundred and sixty-one thousand brick. The Overland Mail Company have also erected a spacious brick huilding containing (dlices, storage-rooms, carriage-house, blacksmith house, stahles, etc.
There were eleven attorney's and seven doctors in the city this year; and the city vote was one thousand and twenty.
1860.
Jaunary 9th, Brevet Major Edward Harold Fitzgerald, of the United States Army, Captain of the First Regiment of Dra- goons, died in Los Angeles, and was buried with military honors,
During March and April the Mariquez Theatrical troupe played to good houses, and in the latter month " the beautiful Pepita " appeared as Prima Donna at the New City Hall theatre.
July 18th Col. Fremont visited Los Angeles, and was greeted with a salute of fifteen guns. A delegation of citizens called upon him in the evening at the Bella Union Hotel. He stopped some days, visited the Temescal tin mines, and then returned to Los Angeles, and thence back to Mariposa.
During July Los Angeles was greatly excited over politics, and the city cannon were in constant requisition to fire salutes to either Breckenridge or Douglass.
September 21st the ladies of Los Angeles held a festival in aid of the building fund of the Protestant church, and netted over five hundred dollars.
Early in October a band of desperadoes left the city for Lower California with the avowed purpose of killing Gov- ernor Esparza.
The population of the city was estimated this year at four thousand to five thousand; and the amount of city property returned by the Assessor was one million five hundred thou- sand.
1861
In February the city market building was rented to the county for a Court House. April 5th we read :-
The block of old adohe hnildings on the corner of Comunerein! and Main streets, are to he pulled down to give place to a fine substantial brick hlock.
The Fourth of July was celebrated with becoming patriotic spirit. Addresses by J. R. Getchell and others.
September 11th Hon. Kimball H. Dimmick died suddenly of heart disease, and was buried the following day. The follow- ing uotice is from the News of September 13th :-
Died suddenly, of heart disease, in Los Angeles on the 11th inst., Hon. Kimhall H. Dimmick, aged about fifty years. Judge Dimmick was a native of Connecticut. At an early age his father removed to Mohawk, Chenango county, N. Y. He was a member of " art preserv- ative of all arts," and was a member of the Bar of the Sixth Circuit of New York, which, under the venerable Judge Mosely, ranked at the head of the profession. . Although a Whig iu politics, and having charge of a Whig newspaper in that county when the President of the United States, James K. Polk, called for volunteers for the war, Gen. Dimmick, who was then in command of a Brigade of the New York State Militia, raised a company and, at its acceptance, was elected Captain. He was repeatedly offered a field office, which he refused to accept, preferring to share the fate of the sons of his neighbors of the county. He sailed from New York in September, 1846, in command of Company K of Colonel J. D. Stevenson's regiment, New York volun- teera, on the ship Loo Choo, and landed at Yerha Buena March 7, 1847, from whence he was ordered with his company to garrisou the presidio. When peace was proclaimed he removed to San Jose, where he was elected Alcalde, an office at that time of more importance than that of Supreme Judge at present. At the election held in 1849, under the proclamation of General Riley, military Governor of California, he was elected Judge of the Supreme Court of the State. He was elected to and attended the convention for framing a State Constitution for the State of California, and several of the important articles of that inst.'u-
ment were reported hy him and adopted without amendment. In 1851 he revisited the East and supposed himself worth a fortune, hut hy the treachery of pretended friends he returned here to find himself utterly peuniless, He then removed to this county, where he held succes- sively the offices of District Attorney, Justice of the Peace, Notary Public, Judge of the County, and at the time of his death, through the partiality of his friend, W. H. Seward, he held the important office of Attorney for the Southern District of the United States for California.
In November, Lady Franklin, widow of the much lamented Sir John, with her niece, Mrs. Craycroft, visited Los Angeles.
1862.
Small-pox, measles and secession were rampant in Los Angeles throughout this year. There were several fatal cases of each disease, and desperate remedies had to be resorted to in order to save other patients. Trade with Utah was very lively, the Saints and Angels constantly exchanging visits.
May 7th Capt. Winnie, of the U. S. Army, committed suicide at the Bella Union Hotel. He was buried on the 9th inst. with military honors.
July 4th passed off without notice, such celebrations being distasteful to the ruling powers. In October, however, one thousand dollars were raised in the city for the Sanitary fund. October 8th Dr. Charles Leonce Hoover died. A circus company exhibited during November.
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