USA > California > Los Angeles County > History of Los Angeles County, California, with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, residences, fine blocks and manufactories > Part 52
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I
HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY. CALIFORNIA.
Treasurer. The greatest number of members at any one time has been sixty-four; members at present, sixty. Character and present value of property : Lodge furniture and regalia, five hundred dollars; real estate, one hundred and fifty dollars; money on hand and loaned out, eight hundred and fifty dollars ; total. one thousand five lumdred dollars. The financial condi- tion is sail to be excellent. There has been disbursed in ben- efits, charities etc., about eight hundred dollars. The lodge meets in Old Fellows' Hall every Saturday evening.
GOOD TEMPLARS.
Santa Ana Lodge, No. 151, I. O. G. T., was organized Janu- ary 19, 1878. The first officers were: R. E. Hewitt, W. C. T .; Flora Babcock, W. V. T .; Rev. W. H. Featherston, W. Chap .; Win. Bowden, W. Sec .; Miss M. Weaver, W. A. Sec .; L. E. Kent. W. F. Sec .; R. McFadden, W. Treas. ; J. Rushing, W. M .; Mi~ N. Greenleaf, W. D. M. ; Miss Emma Weaver, W. I. G .; A. Greenleaf, W. O. G .; Mrs. S. E. Layman, W. R. H. S .; Miss M. Parish, W. L. H. S .; F. Cobler, P. W. C. T. The charter members were : R. E. Hewitt, Win. Bowden, W. B. Parish, L. E. Kent, J. J. Titchenal, Geo. Rayburn, Chas. Yost, Chas. Humphreys, Win. Trask, Rev. W. H. Featherston, R. McFad- den T. M. Hoge, A. J. Rushing, Geo. W. Ford, L. S. Robinson, C. H Peter-, F. Cobler, H. Titchenal, M. H. Gist, Mrs. S. E. Layman. Miss M. Parish, Miss N. Greenleaf, Miss F. Babcock, W. Straw. A. Greenleaf, F. Humphreys, M. Greenleaf, W. Cobler, A. F. Alvord. Of the same the following are still active members : L. E. Kent, J. J. Titchenal, R. McFadden, W. Straw M Greenleaf, W. Cobler, Miss M. Parish, Miss N. Green- leaf Miss F Babcock. The present officers are: L. E. Kent, W ( T : Miss M. Durand, W. V. T .; J. Addis, W. Sec .; Miss M Parish W. Chap .; M. Yarnell, W. F. Sec .; Jake Thompson, W Treas S Shale, W. M .; May Greenleaf, W. D. M .; Helen CMor W I G ; A. Yarnell, W. O. G .; Lottic Patnam, W. R. H - parab V Conner, W. L. H. S .; H. E. Ford, P. W. C. T. The paket number of members at any one time has been wolf Present number of members, forty-nine. The char- & pr at value of property: Lodge furniture, regalia, . tw, brdred dollars. The financial condition is - There have been disbursed in benefits, chari- The lodge meets every Wednesday -
WORKMEN
LUX 2 A ( I W was organized, Feb- SKAM J Bindy. A. S. Addis, .... NA JaJ & Hayword F. Man- ADObaudo, W Elon ABER PLOP Ed First officer's
5
Rec .; G. A. Fayle, G .; A. S. Adis, P. M. W. ; J. J. Titchenal. J. W .; H. O. Porton, O. W. All of the above are still active meinbers. The present officers are : Geo. E. Freeman, M. W .; F. Maneghon, G. F .; J. S. Hayword, O .; A. C. Bowers, Recdr .; M. J. Bundy, F. W .; W. T. Brown, Rec. : H. Jessin, G .; C. P. Schmider, P. M. W .; H. Neill, O. W .; H. O. Porton, I. W. The greatest number of members at any one time has been twenty-eight. Number of present members, twenty-seven. The financial condition is said to be prosperous. There has been disbursed in benefits, charities, etc., three hundred and eleven dollars.
SCHOOLS.
There is a graded school with three departments in Santa Ana. Aggregate attendance, three hundred and fifty.
UPPER SANTA ANA.
In the north-west portion of the Santiago De Santa Ana Ranel, is a settlement (originally Mexican) known as Upper Santa Ana. Here is a school-house, a Catholic church (the priest from Anaheim officiates), one or two American families, and several Mexican families. There are some young orchards of northern fruits and one or two of oranges and walnuts. Wheat, barley and corn are the principal grain crops of the settlement.
GOSPEL SWAMP.
We copy the following from the Los Angeles Star of April 9,1873 :-
This is the name of a considerable settlement on a portion of the Santa Ana Rauch. It is situated on low ground, and is possessed of a soil of marvelous fertility. A well authenticated fact regarding the extraordinary productiveuess of this region was related to us yester- day. A twenty-five-acre field of corn, tilled by James Layman, yielded last year the prodigious amount of one hundred and eighteen busliels of shelled corn to the acre. This was the marvelous result upon weighing. The swamp was originally settled by a number of families, among whom were more than the usual proportion of preach- ers, so the community were remarkable for their piety and church- going. Hence the name of the settlement. The late severe winds were not felt in this stretch of country; and although the land is low and frost is frequent, yet the crops are always abundant. The winds are broken before reaching the swamp by a great barrier of willows at a point that may be termed the delta of Santa Ana river. During heavy freshets the overflow covers a traet of country of about teu thousand acres, which was settled upon a year or two ago by a number of squatters, under the impression that it was outside of Spanish graut lands; but which has since been successfully claimed by the San Ber- nardino Land Association. As these settlers were nearly all of the Republican faith, the hard-shells of Gospel Swamp dubbed their place Republican Bend. This vast tract of country is covered by a deuse growth of willows, and serves to shelter Gospel region from the west wiuds. Persons who have made the atmospheric currents a study in this county, have reached the conclusion that the heavy worth winds that pass diagonally across the north western portion of the county, strike a counter current on reaching the ocean, aud are borne back in a westerly direction toward the banta Ana region. These reacting gales would be very injurious were it not for the willow barrier they encounter at the delta of the Santa Ana.
We find the following in the Santa Ana Times of December 25 1879
Gospel Swamp is known as the Egypt of America. Com is the staple, aud ranges from eighty-five to one hundred and twenty-five bushels to the acre. Two crops can be grown annually on the same land-one of corn and one of barley.
We have gleaned the following by inspection of this region, and from conversations with the settlers there :-
Gospel Swamp is a tract of about four thousand acres of damp land lying in the southerly portion of Santa Ana Ranch. There is a considerable portion of the east end of this tract nnfit for cultivation by reason of alkaline deposit. About three-fourths of the tract is good agricultural land, growing principally corn, potatoes, and pumpkins. Some barley is also grown, but this grows too rank, and lodges down on the ground.
The bulk of the stock raised here is hogs; there are some cattle, but few sheep.
The principal hog ranches are :
H. H. Wakeman, about 200
R. Cuffle, (dealer) 1,000
W. N. Tedford, 125
H. M. Bear, 50
A. T. Armstrong,
75
James McFadden, 1,000
There are four school-houses on the tract, having an avera _~- aggregate attendance of about one hundred and fifty.
The Methodists have a church building, which is used by them and the old-school Presbyterians on alternate Sabbath The Methodist minister is the Rev. Mr. Butler. The Pres- byterian, Rev. Mr. Bogul.
The Mormons also have a church building, but no regular preacher.
Apples and peaches are being grown extensively on this tract and do well.
Mr. Tedford was the first settler on the tract in Ists
Almost every ranch has an artesian well, some have se vaml They are not much used for irrigation. the soil not regering L
The Mormon Church was organize l by Eller D S. Mc 1875. The first President of the district contagi counties of Los Angeles and Kern, was Joseph Bart o T are two church organizations or branches in the Iser Gospel Swamp and the other at Laguna Car M For still President of the whole district
The presiding elders of the Gospel Swamp Chorob an Por Betts and Wm Garner.
Levi Hemmenway and Honey Ga-45 my
of the Laguna Canon Chirel
The whole county of be together one hundred and ses ntv eve
The church& Filho
WWWINCHIO OF THOMPSON & WEST
" THE OLDEST TREE HI ANAHEIM
RESIDENCE 9 VINEYARD. OF ANDREW BITTNER, ANAHEIM, LOS ANGELES C9
CAL.
149
HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
part of the Santa Gertrudes Ranch, and was in farms prior to the establishment of the Downey colony in 1873. In that vear a tract of two hnulrel acres was purchased by a joint. stock company, known as the Dawnry Laml Association. This was laid off in Imibling lots seventy by one hmired and fifty feet. Ten aeres were given by the Association to the South- ern Pacific Railroad for a depot site. Ahont one-half the property has been sold at private sale, and the remainder is yet in the hands of the Association. Building lots are now offered by the Association, within the town site, at fram fifty to one hundred and fifty dollars each. The name of the puist-office was changed from Los Nietos to Downey in 1876. We find the following lire chronicled in the Los Angeles Herald under date April IS. 1879 :--
FIRE AT DOWNEY.
A fire occurred at Downey on the morning of Friday. April 18, 187 !. commencing about two o'clock. The fire started in Hutchings' butcher shop. The fire spread both ways from the place in which it originated, taking iu J. A. Stuart's hotel and dennison & Greening's general mer- chandise store on the one hand. and the drug store of J. O. Hailey, the barnera store of C. S. Shortridge and the office of Dr. L. P. Janes an the other. The flames were finally checked on the north by the brick «tore of N. Mitrovitch, which offered a substantial barrier against its progress. On the south there was a space of abont twelve feet inter- vening between the buildings occupied by Dr. Jones and the Outlook office. The former structure had been recently built, and the timbers not yet seasoned fully, so that it burned slowly. A force pump. located on the opposite side of the street, with hose attached, was here brought into service, and the further progress of the lire in this direc. tion was stayed. The total loss was estimated to be between fifteen and twenty thousand dollars. Total iusnrance, ten thousand five hun- dred dollars. The fire was probably the work of an incendiary.
The town at present contains abunt three hundred inhabit- ants. There are in all some sixteen business houses, inelnd- ing a hotel. There is also a lumber yard, carrying a stack of five million feet. Five doctors and four lawyers represent the professions.
The Old Fellows' Building Association at Downey is a corporation of citizens (not necessarily Odd Fellows) They have ereeteil and own several fine buiblings. in one of which 'lately erected, is a public hall.
EDUCATIONAL.
Downey has no public school, and the pupils are obliged to atteu l those of the adjacent Gallatin and College settlements. The reason of this is that the citizens, of late years, have been so heavily taxel that they cannot at present raise funds for the erection of the necessary school builling. The school-dis- triet in which Downey now stands was formerly known as the Silver School-district.
We find the following in the Los Angeles Nousof March 15, 1869:
An assembly convened at 10 o'clock, a. M., at Los Nietos, for the pur- Fox of laying the corner stone of the college building, proceeded to organize by electing Gov. Jno. G. Downey, Chairman, and John C. Ardis. Secretary. The Chairman stated the object of the meeting-
after which the Rev. Mr. Spurlock offered pubbe prayers. The i hair- man then introduced Judge Wan. G. Dryden, as the orator of the day. who in abont an hour's speech, gave California's ednca imal history. Short addresses were then made by W. Hughes. I.g . Frank Paluche. Esp .. Colonel A. J. King. Rev. J. M. Stomt. Then followed the sab of town lots, at anciion, adjoining the college, which amounted to two thousand seven hundred and forty-three dollar- and fifty cents Before the leation of the college the land was valued at twenty dollars per acre. The lot- bronght from fifty-one to one hundred and forty-tve dollars each.
November 2, 1578, we real :-
The Southern l'acific College has one hundred and four matrien- lates: the Los Nietos College almut ninety; the Gal Atin or st vrr school over one hundred and fifty, and the Nameda school one hundred and forty, making a total of abont four hundred and eighty-tour pupait -. attending in the immediately vicinity of Howney City.
The Days of the los Nietos College are formal into a mil- ilary squadron under Captain Chrhran. Their uniforms are cult gray after the style of the Virginia Military Academy.
The college luibling is said to have cost twelve thousand live hundred dollars. It was conducted at lirst by Rev. J M Monroe, aml afterward hy Rev. C. B. Rohlick. We find the following account of its destruction by fire in Ho. Los Angeles Express of April 24, 1880 :-
THE DOWNEY COLLEGE BUENED.
A little after 12 o'clock last night the building of the Los Niet Valley Institute, located in the suburbs of Downey, took fire aml was entirely consumed. The structure was a large. tweestory frame, and has always been regarded as an ornament to that section of the conn- try. It was built by Rev. Mr. Monroe, of the Christian Church, about three years ago, at a cost of thirteen thousand dollars, the citizens of Downey contributing liberally towards its erection, and Indge Craw- ford donating the land upon which it stood. When completed there was a mortgage of seven thousand dollars on the property hebl by Mr. Gibberson, of Westminster, As a Christian college, the institution lid not flourish, and about a year ago the mortgage, amounting, with accrued interest, to nine thousand dollars, was foreclosed and the property taken by the mortgagee. Subsegently, Dr. Reddick leased the college from Mr. Gibberson and conducted the institution for a while under the ans. pices of the Methodist Church, Unt he abandoned the enterprise in the latter part of 1879 to accept the charge of a congregation in Colorado. Since that time the building has been upoccupied. There can he no manner of doubt but that the fire was incemliary. When first di -- covered the flames were as yet confined to the rear part of the upper story. The building being of frame, and Downey being totally nupro- vided with any fire.extinguishing apparatus, the destruction was speedy und complete. There was an insurance of five thousand dollars on the structure, equally divided between La Confiance and La Caisse Gene- rale Compames, represented by Mr. Lcake. Residents of every portion of the county will join with their Downey neighbors in deploring the luss .
AY ACCOUNT FROM OUR DOWNEY CORRESPONDENT.
DOWNEY, April 20, 1880.
EDITOR EXPRESS :- At ahont 12 o'clock last night a fire was dis- covered on the second floor in the north-east corner of the southern Pacific College, built by Professor J. M. Monroe, and subsequently owned by Mr. Giberson, of Westminster. Nothing could be done to save the building and it is a total low. The cost was about thirteen thousand dollars. Do not know the amount of furniture lost. It is said the building was insured for about seven or eight thousand dollar -. The building was not occupied at the time. Its destruction is a heavy loss to this little town, and no mistake. The fire was the work of an incendiary, and if the perpetrator could he detected salt would not save him. B.
CHURCHES.
We find the following under date. September s. Ists, in the
A camp-meeting has been an session for fourteen days at las Niethe. cheng Septender ith. During the meeting a large number of profe- sions of religion were made. those who were in attendance were sup- phed with not only the acces iries of life, but with the comforts, free of charge.
Dowiny has two church billings, both built in ISTE 'The Baptist Church cost about six hundred dollars The first min ister was the les Ferqua, wlas was sheecoded by lies I B. Tamils, and he in turn was succeeded bay liss For gun again. At present the pulpit is vacant Nine hundred dans were lately subscribed toward paying off the debt all this church.
The Christian Church was built in IST & mand cost seven him ered dollars The first minister was Bov. R. Haml, who wity succeeded by Res . M. Monon, Rev . " Hay was the last minister The pulpit is at present untilhol
SOCIETIES.
Downey has the following societies :-
Mnsons. Obl Follows.
A. O. T. W.
There have been also Good Templars, and u Grange in years gone by, but they are both now extinct.
The order of Odd Fellows own a bull in n brick Inibling.
The Masous use the public ball of the Odd Fellows' Buikling Aunciation in which they own stack.
The A O. IT. W's. also use the lutter named hull.
In the upper room of the store built by Alams & Jacoby ut the College settlement, was organized the first Will Follows' lage in the Los Nietos colony.
In this room also the first lodges uf Masons, Good Templars, and the first Grange were organized, and held their meetings.
We find the Following notes in the News mmler the dates in- licated :--
JANUARY 20. 1872. -
The institution of Nietos Lodge J. O. O. F., took place at Los Nietos Thursday, January 18, 1872, aml installation of officers was conducted by R. W. G. M. Ihl. The new lodge has mne charter mehebers. The following officers: N. G., John Dolan; V. G., A. Sidney Gray; Recording Secretary, M. Franket: Treasurer, William Mccormick.
NOVEMBER 3, 1872:
The installation of the officers of the Downey Lodge, No. 220, F. aud A. M., at Los Angeles, nader the new charter granted to them at the last communication of the M. W. Grand Lodge of California in October, took place on Friday, November 1-t, at 7:30 P. st. The cere- monica were conducted by Bro. P. M., Smouel Prager, acting MI. W. Grand Master assisted by Bro. P. M., F. P. F. Temple, acting G. S. W .; and Bro. T. Ruwan, acting G. D. M. The following officers were installed: Bro. C. (. Cummings, W. M .; W. W. Edwards, S. W .; T. F. Adams, J. W .: J. K. Woodward, Treasurer; J. W. Venable, Secretary; - Kern, S. D .; -- Elliott, J. D .; Sackett and Colline, Stewards;
150
HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY. CALIFORNIA.
--- Newton, Marshal; -- Jones, Tyler. After the installation cere- mony, Bro. S. Prager presented on behalf of J. G. Downey, a most beautiful and costly set of Masonic jewels to Downey Lodge.
Only the Masons' lodge has responded to our request for information regarding the history of the organization.
DOWNEY LODGE, NO. 220, F. AND A. M.,
Was organized in 1871. The first officers were: W. M. Andrews, W. M .; W. W. Edwards, S W .; F. E. Adams, J. W .; S. K. Woolward, Treasurer; D. S. Wardlow, Secretary. The charter members were W. M. Andrews, W. W. Edwards, F. E. Adams, G. D. McCaig, N. A. McCaig, J. L. McCaig. W. H. Houghton, M. B. Condit, S. K. Woodward, W. W. Orr, T. P. Montgomery, J. Stewart, D. S. Wardlow, T.D. Sackett, T. J. Kerns; of the same the following are still active members : S. K. Woodward, W. W. Orr, J. Stewart, T. D. Sackett, T. J. Kerus. The present officers arc: J. W. Venable, M .; T. D. Sackett, S. W .; J. W. Smith, J. W .; M. G. Settle, Secretary; W. P. McDonald, Treasurer. The greatest number of members at any one time has been seventy-three; members at present, sixty-eight; the character and present value of property, stock in hall valued at eight hundred dollars. The financial condi- tion is said to he sound. Disbursed in benefits, charities, etc., six hundred dollars. The Lodge meets at Downey on Saturday on or before every full moon.
GALLATIN.
In the spring of 1868, the settlement known as Gallatin was started on the Santa Gertrudes Rancb. L. Harris and Frankel Brothers erected the first stores. They were quickly followed by Baruch & Loew, W. W. Standifer & Co., Smith & Fulton, L. C. Pollard, and others. A school-house was erected at a cost of three thousand six hundred dollars.
The settlement flourished until the Anaheim railroad passed through and the town of Downey started. Then Gallatin inoved aluost bodily over to the latter place, and became to all intents and purposes, merged therein. A school is still con- dueted at the old village site, but aside from this the settlement is dead.
COLLEGE SETTLEMENT.
The M. E. Church (South), erected a place of worship at this place in 1869. The first minister was W. A. Spurlock. He remained four years and was succeeded by the following gen- tlemen in the order of their names: Rev. William Morse, Rev. Abraham Adams, Rev. G. E. Butler, Rev. William Morse, Rev. L. A. Smith, Rev. C. B. Reddick, Rev. M. J. Low (tbe present incumbent).
A college was opened here by the M. E. Church in 1839 (the old church building being merged therein), and was presided over by C. C. Cummings, Rev. G. E. Butler and Rev. S. M.
Adams, in the order of their names. The building was pur- chased by Rev. C. B. Reddick in 1875, wbo conducted the col- lege for four years, and then removed to Downey. Mr. Reddick was formerly a professor in Richmond, Virginia. The attend- ance at this college is said to have averaged about one hundred.
A new church was erected here in 1876, at a cost of about six thousand dollars. Regular Sabbath services are held by M. J. Low. Between 1871 and 1873, there were several stores at this point, but all these removed to Downey, when that place was started.
OLD LOS NIETOS.
According to Colonel J. J. Warner (Historical Sketch of Los Angeles County), this settlement had two hundred inhabitants in 1836. In 1867, a post-office was here established.
The place contains at present, perbaps twenty native Cali- fornian families, in nearly as many adobe houses. There are two stores, a school-house and a saloon.
The principal crops in this neighborhood are corn, barley, and beans. Some castor-beans are also grown. Oranges, walnuts, and apples do well, but almonds are a failure. F. Buchard has about fifty-five acres under grapes, from which he manufac- tures considerable wine and brandy. He has also one thousand five hundred orange trees. Both of the San Gabriel rivers contribute water for irrigation to this settlement.
There are a good many sheep in this neighborhood, and great numbers of hogs are shipped alive.
PICO'S RANCHITO.
This is a collection of tumble-down adobe dwellings, among which is the old Governor's residence, now much decayed, yet still retaining traces of a sort of semi-barbarie splendor. In the old dining-room, a circular table-from ten to twelve feet across-gives intimation of what may have been in the hospi- table days gone by, when money was plenty, and the Mexican Don kept open house. Now all is ruiu.
FULTON WELLS.
Dr. J. E. Fulton erected his hotel at this point in 1878, but as early as 1874 he had purchased property here and bored for mineral water. At present he owns sixty acres, which has all been surveyed and laid off in villa lots. There are three mineral wells, but only the two principal ones are now owned by him. The deepest well is three hundred and fifty feet. All three wells How constantly and freely. There is a bath-house of eight bath-rooms adjoining the hotel, where hot and cold batbs are furnished to guests. There is also an open air plunge bath for summer use. The grounds surrounding the hotel are handsomely laid out with shrub- bery.
We find the following account of these baths in the Semi- Tropic California of February, 1880 ;--
FULTON WELLS.
One of the new enterprises of Los Angeles county which has not received that attention which its merits demand, is the place which heads this article, the sanitarium established by Ptr. I. E. Fulton, known as Fulton Wells. These wells are situated near the Los Angeles and Anaheim railroad, on the table- lands thirteen miles from the coast, and two miles from the foot-bills, and in full view of the snow-covered Coast Range, which rises several thousand feet above the hills. The climate is pleasant, both winter and summer; but for a winter resort, it is nuequaled, being the only mineral water of any note in the southern part of the State, and possesses ingredients which give a rare combination of' medicinal qualities. The analysis of these waters shows all of the important elements usually contained in mineral springs, and where most of them have mere traces, are here contained in such quantities as to Inve : decided effect. Iron, sulphur, magnesia, potash, sodu and iodine, held iu solution by a large quantity of carbonie and hydrogen gusses, which sparkle and boil like a soda fount, leaving quantities of these sub- stances in deposit where the waters ran from the wells.
Another advantage of these wells, unlike the most of mineral springs, is that the waters llow from a depth of three hundred and fifty feet, and are thus uninfluenced by winter rains, which with the mild sunny climate, makes it the most desirable of any place in the State for a winter resort.
A new hotel with good accommodations, hot baths, reading and bil- liard rooms, daily mail, bright sunshine, fine mountain views, and the meadow-like plain carpeted with green, for riding or strolling, are some of the attractions of the place.
Dr. F'ulton, an experienced practitioner of medicine, proposes to give his services gratis to the guests who may need medical attention, as well as directions for the proper use of the waters.
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