USA > California > Los Angeles County > History of Los Angeles County, California, with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, residences, fine blocks and manufactories > Part 56
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The lodge meets in Odd Fellows' Hall every Tuesday evening. ORPHEUS LODGE, NO. 237, I. O. o. F.,
Was organized November 5, 1875, by a number of Germans, who preferred to work in their own language. The first ofli- cers were: John P. Zeyn, N. G .; H. Knappke, V. G .; A. Heimann, P. S .; R. Menzel, R. S .; F. A. Korn, Treasurer. Charter members: John Fischer, J. P. Zeyn, F. A. Korn, H. Knappke, H. A. Boege, R. Menzel, A. Heimann, C. Wille, H. Boege, F. Conrad, M. Oeffinger, C. Wilkins, C. Lorenz, 1. West- phal, T. Boege, M. Classen, P. Hansen, L. Dravsen, D. Strodlhoff, N. Gray, C. Stappenbeck. All of the above except J. P. Zeyn, F. A. Korn, A. Heimann and F. Conrad, are still active mem- bers. The present officers arc: H. A. Boege, N. G .; C. Wille, V. G .; R. Menzel, R. S .; D. Strodlhoff, Treasurer; M. Nebelenz, Warden. The greatest number of members at any one time has been thirty-six members; at present, twenty-eight; the character and present value of property is regalia, books and furniture, five hundred dollars; amount disbursed in benefits, charities, etc, six hundred and twenty dollars.
This lodge meets every Thursday evening at Masonie Hall. ORION ENCAMPMENT. NO. 54, 1. 0. 0. F.,
Was organized January 4, 1876. The first officers were : Win. L. Tyler, C. P .; P. C. Mckennie, H. P .; E. W. Champlin, S. W .; John J. Hill, Seribe; John Fischer, Treasurer; J. J. Dyer, I. W. Charter members: John Fischer, E. W. Champlin, P. C. Mckennie, M. L. Goodinan, Win. L. Tyler, John Adams, R. Heimann, A. Heimann, P. Richards, Otto Evers, S. H. Dyer, J.
J. Dyer, J. J. Hill, Thos, H Shelley. Of the same the follow- ing are still active members: John Fischer, E. W. Champlin, M. L. Goodman, R. Heimann. John Adams, P. Richards, S. 11. Dyer, J. J. Dyer, J. J. Hill. The present officers are : John Adams, C. P .; L A. Evans, I. P; Win. J. Hill, S. W .; F. A. Korn, Seribe; Wm. M. Higgins, Treasurer; John P. Zeyn, 1. W. The greatest number of members at any one time has been twenty-nine ; members at present, twenty-live. Present value of property, one thousand dollars. The lodge meets the first and third Saturday of every month.
WORKMEN.
Anaheim Lodge, No. 85, A. O. UT W. was organized March 5, 1879. The first officers were: B. F. Seihert, L. W. Kirby, J. J. Hill, D. J. Sorensen, George (. Knox, C. E. Leonard, P. H. Look. T. S. Grimshaw, D R. Payne, and H. L. Paty. Charter members : The above and in addition thereto, L. Halberstadt. E. Dunham, R. M. Barham, (. Hiher, Frank Ey, C. Mossman, 11. A. Stough, George Hall, D Drown, J. F. Dalton, G. 11. Bailey, George Bauer, J. C. Carry, D. W. C. Cowan, all of whom are still active members. The present officers are : Frank Ey, D. J. Sorensen, D. W. (, Cowan, T. S. Grimshaw, George C. Knox. A. Rimpau. C. Hihiner, R. Mel- rose, H. A. Stough and E. Claridge. The greatest muaber of members at any one time has been thirty-six ; members at present, thirty-six. The character and present value of prop- erty-personal property, three hundred dollars. The financial condition of the society is said to be very substantial.
The object of the society is to pay the beneficiary of each deceased member two thousand dollars; but so far there have been no deaths.
The society meets every Monday in Odd Fellows' Hall.
MISCELLANEOUS SOCIETIES.
Anaheim Literary Union was organized in 1877, and holds weekly meetings for musical and literary exercises every Tues- day evening in the Presbyterian Church. The President and other officers are.elected quarter yearly.
Anaheim Hebrew Cemetery Association was incorporated on January 18, 1878. First Trustees: Lewis Wartenberg, G. Davis, Joseph Fisher, M. A. Mendelson, 11. Colin. The Asso- ciation has two and a half acres of land.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Anaheim has a regularly organized volunteer fire department. organized in 1872 and reorganized in 1876. Hook and ladder, buckets, also a truck, drawn by hand; outfit cost about five hundred dollars. There is a fire bell on the bank building. Officers: Lewis Wartenberg, President; F. J. Dalton, Fore- man; N. A. Bittner, Assistant Foreman; L. Cohen, Secretary .
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PROPERTY OF G.P.CUDDEBACK, ORANGE, CAL.
HOTEL AT ORANGE, CAL PROPERTY OF G. P. CUDDEBACK
.1 46
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PUBLISHED BY THOMPSON · WEST.
RESIDENCE OF G.P. CUDDEBACK, ORANGE, LOS ANGELES CO CAL.
159
HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
F. Backs, Treasurer. Thirty-two members curolled; no one under pay.
The Following account of a very peculiar society, we can from the Anaheim Gacette of May 10, 1879 :-
THE SOCIETAS FRATERNI.A.
Its Headquarters near Anaheim-Some of the Queer Nations and Beliefs of the Society- Their Peculiar Diet-Their Subling Reliance upon Nature.
There is living a few miles from Anaheim a society whose peculiar beliefs and mode of life have made them the subject of public criti- cism for some time past. The rumors in regard to them were evidently so at variance with the facts, that some weeks ago, the editor of the Gazette sought an interview with them for the purpose of obtaining authentic information as to their religious views. He fortified himself for the interview by asking Rev. Mr. Trew to accompany him as a sort of theological mentor and support, fearing that without the presence of some orthodox personage he might sneenmb to the seductions of the new religion.
In 1876 there arrived in Anaheim an Englishman named George I'. Ilinde, accompanied by his wife and children. He bought a fine tract of land about four miles north-east of Anahrim, and began the erec- tion of' a house whose architretural peenliarities were the talk of the neighborhood. It is a large two-story frame building, of quite haml. some external appearance: but all the rooms, hall-ways, and closets are cither oval or round in shape. The effect is rather novel, but pleasant withal, and the waste space, which the peculiar construction made necessary, is utilized by closet+-those convenient receptacles so dear to the heart of the housewife. It is claimed, also, that such shaped houses are superior in a sanitary point of view, allowing a free circulation of air, and, consequently, being cooler and more pleasant residences for this climate than the ordinary house.
But these points were not taken into consideration by the bnibler of the bouse. Ile gave up a lucrative and prosperous business in England at the command of the "spirits," und under Their guidance crossed the ocean, and, still under their guidance, kept on until Anaheim was reached. The truct of land which he bought was pointed ont to him by the same invisible power, and the house of which we have spoken. was reared under inspiration from the same source.
Two years later, there arrived in Anaheim an oldish gentleman named Dr. Schlesinger. He, too, was impelled by influences in the spirit world to come here. He had never met Mr. Hinde: in fact, had vever even heard of him, but the mysterious power led him direct to that gentleman's honse. When the two men met, they were instantly imbued with the knowledge that they had been thrown together in order to necomplish some grand purpose, and it was subsequently revealed to them that they were destined to be the founders of a society, which would in time grow to grand proportions, and which in its beliefs and practices would be entirely different from, and immens- urably superior to, that of any other society or sect in the world.
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Shortly after Dr. Schlesinger's arrival, the Societas Fraternit Was organized-not, as they explained, in a worldly sense, but only in a spiritual wny. The Doctor ocenpies a position analogous to that of I'resident, Mr. Geo. R. liude is Secretary, and Ira Carpenter, Treas- urer. The society, as has been stated, is in many respects entirely different from any other of which any account has been given. Spirit- ual communion is the great central truth-the anchorage, as it were, of the society. The leaders claim to receive direct instructions from the spirit world as to every act. Nothing is done of their own volition. The mass of spintnalists have only a blind belief in their faith, but these people have actual knowledge of the spiritual world, and in this respect are far above the ordinary bchevers in spiritualism. It is vouchsafed to them not only to sre the spirit forms, but ulsu to fil them and converse with them just as if they were of veritable flesh and blood.
But the most remarkable feature of this society is the strange views they hold as to what should be eaten -- or, rather. us to what should not constitute man's diet. They eat no meat of any kind. no eggs, milk. butter, cheese, bread; in fact, nothing but fruits and vegetables, and then only such as can be eaten noevoked. They believe that Nature frisbee everything necesary for man's subsistence. Nothing passex
their lips except that which grows from the ground, and it must be eaten just as it grows. They hold that it is as sinful to diet on dried or preserved fruit as it would be to Inoch on roast beef, plum pudding. and Limburger cheese. They run to the very extreme of vegetarian- i'm. They run to the extreme in everything. The ordinary vege- tarian, we believe, cook his cabbage and potatoes, and mes salt on his radish, but the Societas Fraterni take their untainted by fire or con- diments. They contend that "all sulstances in nature contains a spiritual essence which goes to build up the body, and which is the cluthing of the soul after leaving murtal life." Anything which need- cooking, nature never intended should be eaten. Comking destroys that spiritual essence which pervades everything in nature. Not only dues the consumption of gross things tend to man's delsement, but it is necessary, in order to obtain the luxuries craved by his perverted system, to toil like a slave from morn till night. But as natme pro- vides everything actually necessary to man's existence, the necessity fur continual toil does not exist: and man, if he so wills it, has ample opportunities for test, recreation aml mental improvement
To the question as to how members of the society could live up to their profession in cold countries, where fruit and vegetables were at certain seasons not to be hnd, the Doctor replied that only in countries favorably situated like this, could perfection in their religion be reached. It would therefore be necessary for believers to either join the society at Anaheim, or establish another at some point equally favorable for the production of these staple articles of diet.
All the property of the society is held in trust by Mr. Carpenter. There is no separate property, everything bring held in common. Neither does the society desire to accumulate wealth: nature furnishes them with food and they have little need of money. Any one who desires to join their society is welcome, whether they have wealth or uot. if they will agree to live in accordance with the established rules. Mr. Carpenter is now in New York, and it is understood that he will return with a large accession of numbers.
It is perhaps needless to say that they hold the marriage ceremony in contempt. Their views ou this subject are not greatly dissimilar to those held by the Onebla community. They say that if this world is to be redeemed, it has to be by a purer system than at present exists, of introducing human beings into the world. They hold it to be sinful for the sexes to co-habit (not even excepting married persons; except for the single purpose of pro-creation, and that the diet of the society makes it impossible for members to sin in that respeet.
We have thus given a brief sketch of these peenlinr people, know- ing that there was a growing desire among our readers to obtain some authentic information concerning them. It only remains for ul- tn chronicle the proof given us by Dr. schlesinger of his spiritual power. lle a-ked Mr. Trew to write on slips uf paper a number of names, ne of them to be of' some dead friend. These slips Mr. Trew folded up carefully, placed them in a bat, and shook them np. They were then handed to the Doctor one by one, and when he was handed the slip beuring the name of the dead person, he announced the fact. He then wrote the name. Archibald Mclean, " bark hand," on a piece of paper, and triumphantly asked our reverend companion to explain the mysterious power, of the possession of which he had just given evidence. Mr. Trew was forced to take refuge in the Shakespearian quotation; " There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in our philosophy " A similar, but in some respects more difficult, test was given to the writer.
CHAPTER XLII.
WESTMINSTER TOWNSHIP.
Ranches in the Tuwuship-History of the settlement-('rops-Stock- Churches -Schools and Societies-Garden Grove-Crops -- Anaheim Landing-Exports and Imports.
WESTMINSTER township is composed of the whole of Rancho Los Alamitos, containing twenty-eight thousand and twenty- seven and eleven one-hundredths acres. owned by the heirs of
Michael Resse who bought under foreclosure of mortgage made by All Stearns, who was the original grantee from the Mexican Government
The land of this ranch is that as to the northerly need west erly portion, with rolling and meat land in the south and southwest It is considered a first-class stock rauch. It is now held moder leave by Bixly & McDonald, who use it for a Sheep ranch. This township also contains portions of ranles La Bolsa Chica and has links. About forty five thousand acres of the township is level land, lying within the Santa Ana valley, and for the most part suitable for farming purposes.
The ranches throughout the township are generally small. running from five to one lumohel and sixty neres. There are only three except our to this general rule, Andrew Mills, three hundred and twenty acres, D. Grissobl. for Iumfred acres, Thomas Edwards, five hundred Beres
We clip the following from the "Anaheim Gazette l'amphilet" uf 1879: -
WESTMINSTER.
HISTORY OF THE SETTLEMENT- A RECORD OP PROSPERITY
11 ROBERT NIRONG
Westminster wus started a+ n colony enterprise by the Rev. I .. I. Webber, in the fall of ts71. Hle selected a tract of level land between Anaheim and the ocean, comprising about right thonsaml seres, atter wards enlarged to ten thousand acres, and endeavored to Fill together persons who wonbl heartily co operate in church, school and muelul stare, so as to get all the advantages of an chil settlement from the be. ginning. After his death in 18;1, hin work was continued. nul the present status of the ponce is as follows:
Aml addition is all sold and occupied in forms, ouatly of forty neres each. The adjacent conmiry bas all been ovenpied and a Westminster township organized with a population estimated ut almit two thousand. There are four school-districts, viz .: Westminster (village), Las Bohsun, Garden Grove, and Alimites. In the vitlagr are three nent church building4, all complete awol free from debt, which testify to the charae. ter of the people. "They belong respectively to the Presbyterian, Moth. orlist and Congregational Churches. Their xpires can be pren from w long distance on the plain. In the village are also three stores uf gen. eral merchandise, two smithys, one wagon shop, one harnem shop, tin- shop, milliner, shoemaker, etc.
ABOUT TWO HONDERD ANH TILLY ARTESIAN WE.1.1.A
supply abundance of pure, cool water for all purposes, including irri. gation, and their number can be indefinitely increased. Probably no section of the I'nited States has so many flowing wells. Every man owns und controls his own water supply. This constitutes the distinc- tive feature of this section.
Barley averages about twenty centals to the acre; corn produces from forty to one hundred bushels per arre, according to quality of lated and care of cultivation; potatoes arc raised in large quantities, and are very profitable. The wuil is a sandy loam, varying from light to heavy. and very rich. The presence of alkali in the lower land is an aunnyaber and an evil, but it is confulently believed that cultivation and drainage will relieve this only blot upon the landscape, and the only drawback in the midst of other advantages. Stock, expecially hogy, are profitally raised. Several packing establishments are doing a large business, in- creasing yearly, in bacon, hams and lard. In this direction there is room for indefinite expansion, with sure profits to men who under-taml
160
HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
the business. Several large dairies supply butter to the surrounding towns and to Los Angeles. A vegetable farm sends its products in every direction.
Westminster makes nu speciality of semi-tropical fruits, but lovers of trees, and of the profits from them, have an advantage here of making orchards, of apples especially, that will vie with the neighboring orange gruves in yearly muncy returns, with less outlay and less delay. Onr apples are already celebrated for good and keeping qualities, and the trees are very productive. Westminster nursery, exclusively for the northern fruits, supplies demands in this direction, and its trees have a well-known reputation for quality and growth. The few old bearing apple trees here fully confirm all hopes of the health and profitable- ness of this branch of farming.
UUR CLIMATE
Is all that could be desired, a refreshing sea-breeze tempering the heat of summer. The sen, five miles nwny, gives opportunity for daily baths.
PRICE OF LAND.
Land ranges from twenty ta furty dollars per acre, according to loca- tion nud quality, with additional valuation on improvements. Every growing, thrifty place hus land in the market, and we are not without inducements to strangers.
Each section in this great valley has its peculiar advantages. Ours are quite marked und distinct from our neighbors, and all tastes and pursuits will ultimately find a true home in sowie quarter of this favored country .
This year considerable wheat has fien put in with every prospect of a goof crop. In 1879, Mr. B. F. Townsend put in viglit acres of Minnesota amber sorghum. From this he made somne two hnudred gallons of molasses with very imperfect ap- fliances. lle regards the success of this industry in that sec- tion as assured, he and several of his neighbors are preparing to plant sorghum heavily this coming season. The seed and cane are excellent for hag food. What cane he did not erush, he fod to a large number of hogs with good results. The stalks averaged eight fret in height.
STOCK.
There are a good many sheep in the township. Mr. W. J. Patterson has about. twenty-five thousand head. On Los Ala- mitos Ranch there are about thirty thousand head, of which Mr. John Bixby owns eighteen thousand. He has also five hundred hogs, and a dairy of seventy-five eows on the ranch. The other principal dairies in the township are :-
L. A. C'arey & Sons, eighty cows.
Matthew Rugers. Beckett Brothers.
Great numbers of hogs are raised, and there are several pork-packing establishments in the township. Of these the Westminster packing-house, and Samson Edwards' packing- honse, are the two largest ..
The Westminster packing-house is owned and conducted by Robert Eecles. He slaughters from eight to nine hundred hogs every winter, and the meat is all smoked and cured before sale-about one hundred and seventy-five thousand pounds in the season. The lard is all put up in tins and shipped to San
Francisco. He also makes considerable Bologna sausage, which is sold in the neighborhood.
When the Westminster colony was established, it was un- derstood that all who settled there, shouldI agree that no grapes should be grown, but if any were, at least they should not be manufactured into wine, nor he sold for that purpose; and that no saloon should be tolerated in the settlement. The settle- ment has so far fallen from grace, that grapes are grown there, and one saloon Hourishes, despite all efforts to starve it out.
The settlement has at present about three hundred families. flere are probably two hundred artesian wells here, supplying water to eleven thousand acres.
Westminster has a post-office and daily mail. Postmaster T. C. Hall. There are three church buildings here: Presby- terian, Rev. A. J. Compton, pastor; Methodist, Rev. W. A. Washburn, pastor; Congregational, Rev. F. A. Fielel, pastor.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
We are favored by Mr. Compton with the following infor- ination :-
" Westminster Presbyterian colony was founded by Rev. Samuel P. Webber, in 1572, and the church was organized the Ist of September in that year. Westminster Presbyterian Church was supplied by Rev. Mr. Webber as pastor until his death, which occurred September 25, 1874.
Rev. S. B. Varig supplied the pulpit from the death of Mr. Webber until bis resignation in September, 1878. Rev. A. J. Compton, the present pastor, hegan huis labors December 1, 1878, was installed pastor on the third Sabbath in that monthi. The church edifice, which is built of wood and cost three thon- sand four hundred and ten dollars, exclusive of furniture, was dedicated to the service of God on June 1, 1879, free from debt. Present membership fifty-seven."
METHODIST CHURCH.
In response to the following inquiries, we have received the annexed information :-
1. When was Methodist Church first established in Westmin- ster, and by whom ?
2. Names of various ministers, in their order since establish- ment?
3. Church-when built, material, cost, paid for, or amount of debt ?
4. How many members ?
5. Any other items of interest in regard to religious progress in your neighborhood ?
1. "In 1876; by Rev. I. M. Leihy; membership fourteen.
2. First, I. M. Leihy; second, J. A. Varanda; third, B. A. Washburn.
3. Church Imilt in 1876; cost one thousand eight hundred dollars; all paid for.
4. In full membership thirty; on probation six.
5. I would say under this head, that the holiness movement. now spreading ont into all the earth has reached ns at West- minister. Under the direct labors and teachings of brothers Hardin Wallace, F. H. Ashcroft and James Jaynes, all of Illi- nois, evangelists, many of the members of the church were led ont into the light of a sanctifinal life, and are to-day enjoying perfect love. This special work has taken place within the past few months. Yours, washed in the blood of the Lamb.
15. A. WASHBURN.“
CONGREGATIONAL. CILU'RCIL.
We are indebted to the politeness of Mr. A. T. Taylor, Clerk of the church, for the following information:
" The Congregational Church and Society of Westminister were organized on the 27th day of July, A. D., 1878. The church edifice was commenced in September following, and was ready for use in February, A. D., 1879. The edifice is thirty- four by fifty-four feet. Height of spire from ground is eighty- seven feet; cost of fmilding, four thousand dollars, and the entire amount, except three hundred and fifty dollars from the Congregational Union, fifty-one dollars from friends in Sau Francisco, and twenty dollars from the Congregational Church in San Bernardino, was furnished hy the people of Westmin- ster. There is no incumbrance on the property, and the Soci- ety is out of debt. From the tower of the edifice a good Buck- eye bell rings its peals over the village and plain, the only church bell within fifteen miles of Westminster. The church was organized with thirty-four members; it has now forty- nine. It has a Sabbath-school, the average attendance of which, for one hundred and seven Sundays, has been a frac- tion over seventy-four. Rev. F. A. Field is the pastor of the church."
There is a good school at Westininster, having two depart- ments, and an average aggregate attendance of eighty-five pupils.
A branch of the National Christian Temperance Union was established here in 1878. It meets once a month. George C. Mack, President; J. F. Mareus, Secretary.
The Farmers' Co-operative Store is now controlled by a sin- gle firm, who have bought up all the shares.
T. D. Coulter at Westminster manufactures an iron buggy. under patent, which took first premium at the last county fair.
GARDEN GROVE.
The town site of Garden Grove was selected and laid out in 1877, by A. G. Cook and (! Howe.
Mr. Cook has sold off several parcels. There are about
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S. 32). P.
PUBLISHED BY THEMPJON & WEST.
SAN PEDRO RANCH. RESIDENCE OF DON MANUEL DOMINGUEZ, WILMINGTON TP, LOS ANGELES CO., CAL.
161
HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
twenty-five families here resident; as a rule, these own the property on which they live- two and a half to forty acres eaclı.
There is a school-house aml a good school, with an average attendance of abont forty-five juinals.
A Methodist Church building was erected here in 1879. Tla. present minister is Rev. E. M. Green, who residles at Orange. The church is free from delit. There is also a store, black- smith shop, paint-shop, doctor's office, and post-office; (daily inail).
There are great numbers of flowing artesian wells in the neighborhood. The principal crops here are wheat, barley, corn, potatoes, castor-beans and flax-all grown with more or less success. All northern fruits flourish, also oranges, Grapes are not very extensively raised, and only for raisins.
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