Los Angeles
County History
An Illustrated History of Southern California - The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago - 1890
ANNALS 1849-1889.
On April 4, 1850, an act of the Legislature incorporated Los Angeles as a city. The municipal government was organized July 3. The personnel was as follows: Mayor, A. P. Hodges; Common Council, David W. Alexander, Alexander Bell, Manuel Requena, John Temple, Morris L. Goodman, Cristobal Aguilar, Julian Chavez; Recorder, John G. Nichols; Treasurer, Francisco Figueroa; Assessor, Antonio F. Coronel ; Marshal, Samuel Whiting; Attorney, Benjamin Hayes.
The first county election held in this county was on April 1, 1850; 377 votes were cast in the county. The officers chosen were: Judge, Agustin Olvera; Clerk, Benjamin Davis Wilson; Attorney, Benjamin Hayes; Surveyor, J. R. Conway; Treasurer, Martin Garfias; Assessor, Antonio F. Coronel; Recorder, Ygnacio del Valle; Sheriff, George T. Burrill; Coroner, Charles D. Cullen, who failed to qualify, so that A. P. Hodges was appointed in his stead. Jonathan R. Scott. who had been a prominent lawyer in Missouri, and who was in the front legal rank in Los Angeles, was the first justice of the peace, taking the position in order to further the county organization; he soon left the office, and was succeeded by J. S. Mallard.
The first drug store was put up in 1850, by Dr. Osborne, who came to California in 1847 with Stevenson's regiment; the second was that of Downey & McFarland, in 1851.
The first daguerreotypes were made by Dr. Osborne and Moses Searles, August 9, 1851. In this year the first political procession (Pierce) was organized by Nordholt, Leck and Goller, three German citizens. They had transparencies and the padre's little brass cannon, of historic record; in attempting to fire the gun,
"George the baker" was badly burned.
The first barber was in 1852, an ex-slave, named Peter Biggs. He had been sold to an officer at Fort Leavenworth, and, left on California territory at the close of the war, his freedom was necessarily recognized.
Los Angeles County was the first in the State to enjoy two competing transcontinental railroads, a pleasure in which it still has a profitable monopoly to the exclusion of the rest of the State. Railroad surveys were early made, dating from 1853, when Lieutenant Williamson, under the military escort of Lieutenant (now ex-Governor) Stoneman made one; but the first railroad did not come until 1869. The Southern Pacific came in 1887, and the Santa Fe system in 1885.
In 1861 a bill was introduced into the Senate board of supervisors of Los Angeles County to subscribe $150,000 toward the construction of a railroad between Los Angeles and San Pedro, and two years later an act for the construction of the road passed both houses; still no practical measures were taken save the holding of a railroad meeting in 1864, and as nothing came of this it could not be deemed very practical. The Los Angeles News of February 27, 1866, notes that two remonstrances were then in circulation in the county against railroad bills introduced into the Legislature by the Hon. Phineas Banning. In the session of 1867—'68 the bill passed both houses, and the movement then became practical. On March 4, 1868, John G. Downey, Dr. J. S. Griffin and John King, as directors of the Los Angeles & San Pedro Railroad, filed a petition with the board of supervisors, asking the board to call an election upon the question of authorizing the county to subscribe $150,000 to the capital stock of the company. This and a subsequent petition were both granted, and when the election was held it resulted as follows: In the city, for the railroad, 297; against it, 245. The vote of both city and county was, for the road, 700; against it, 672,—a bare majority of twenty-eight for the road. Ground was broken at Wilmington, September 19, 1868, and the last rail was laid in Los Angeles, October 26, 1869. The board of directors of the road were Phineas Banning, O. W. Childs, John G. Downey, B. D. Wilson, John S. Griffin, Matthew Kellar. E. E. Hewitt, then editor of the Wilmington Journal, was elected superintendent. The iron rails were shipped from England. The good effects of the road were felt at once, as appears from the following paragraph from the News of September 22, 1868: "Under the influence of a certain prospect of a railroad from this city to the seacoast, thereby making it a seaport city, the price of real estate has advanced very materially." This was three months after the ground had been broken. Immediately after the election on March 27, the News had said, of the California Legislature authorizing the prophetically: "Railroad connection with the seacoast will, in a few years, extend itself to a connection with the Southern Pacific & Atlantic Railroad, placing us upon the great transcontinental thoroughfare, and bringing among us the surplus population and capital of the Eastern States, and developing by their science and energy our varied resources."
The railroad campaign of 1868 was but tame in comparison with that which followed in 1872; and, strange to say, some of the very parties who were not only convinced of the benefits of the short line of twenty-three miles, but materially helped by it, were among the most active opponents of the building of the transcontinental road. On April 4, 1870, the Legislature passed an act authorizing the different counties of the State, through their respective boards of supervisors, to aid in the construction of railroads in those counties which might elect to do so, authorizing the donation for railroad building of five per cent of the total assessment. During this year and 1871 and 1872 this question entered strongly into the movements of the political parties and their issues.
The Southern Pacific, just incorporated, was building its line up the San Joaquin valley, and it was a question whether it would come direct to Los Angeles on its march overland. Its line through the Tehachepi Pass was known, but from there two diverging lines had been surveyed: one southward through the Soledad Pass, with heavy grades and through costly tunnels to Los Angeles, the other over an almost level plain to the Needles, along the thirty-fifth parallel. It did seem inconsistent that Los Angeles, then but an "adobe town," should want the company to pay all the great expense of building and equipping the road to this point, that should afterward share in the profits. The Los Angeles delegation in the Legislature realized the danger to their section, whose development might be delayed for years by mismanagement at this juncture. The two important matters for their adjustment were: to have Los Angeles County exempt from the repeal of the subsidy law, and afterwards as private citizens, with the best interests of their community at heart, to secure the benefits of such exemption. Subsequent events proved that, had the delegation been less friendly to the railroad, Los Angeles might possibly have been without one until the present time. However, the necessary measures were taken, and satisfactory terms were made with the Southern Pacific. Committees were appointed and ordinances were drawn up for the city and county, being passed by the council and the board of supervisors, which empowered the county to donate its bonds in aid of the construction of a railroad within its borders, to an amount not to exceed five per cent upon the total of the last assessment, which was $10,700.000 for 1872, on which five per cent was $355,000. From this sum was to be deducted the $150,000 before issued in county bonds to the Los Angeles & San Pedro Railroad, leaving $385,000 in bonds given by the county. For this sum the Southern Pacific agreed to build fifty miles of its main trunk line through the county, and a branch line to Anaheim; and the county also agreed to sell to the Southern Pacific its stock in the other line. On September 7 the supervisors passed an ordinance asking for a subsidy as large as that asked for the Southern Pacific, for the Los Angeles & San Diego Company, which claimed that their route was the most practical one to Anaheim, and which promised to build an intersection with the Texas Pacific Railroad, then managed by the famous "Tom" Scott. Although this was during the memorable Presidential campaign of Grant and Greeley, so absorbing was the railroad question in Los Angeles that the local issue assumed greater importance than the national one, and the railroads were the subject most discussed by the people. The campaign was one of the hottest ever known here. The election, which was held November 5, 1872, resulted as follows: For the Southern Pacific subsidy, 1,896 votes; against the same, 724. For the San Diego road, ninety-nine; against the same, twenty-nine; that there be no road at
all, twenty-six. The Southern Pacific had a clear majority over all of 1,018.
The city donated sixty acres of land for depot purposes. Work was begun at the initial point in the city, and continued east to Spadra, and north to San Fernando, to which points the first trains were run April 4, 1874. Work on the Anaheim branch was begun in the winter of 1873–'74, and the first train ran into Anaheim, January 7, 1875. In July, 1875, a gang of 1,500 men began work on both ends of the San Fernando tunnel, which was completed in September, 1876. It is 6,940 feet long, and cost originally $2,500,000. It is twenty-seven miles from Los Angeles. The golden spike—the last in the road connecting Los Angeles with San Francisco—was driven September 8, 1877, in the Soledad cañon. The mayors of San Francisco and Los Angeles were present, with the officials of the company, and a great number of spectators from both places. The festivities were closed by a ball and banquet at Los Angeles that evening.
In 1875 Hon. John P. Jones built the Los Angeles & Independence Railroad, from Los Angeles to Santa Monica, whose length is about eighteen miles. Its cost was about $375,000. It was subsequently transferred to the Southern Pacific.
By virtue of a contract with the Southern Pacific, the Santa Fé ran its trains into Los Angeles city from Colton, over the track of the other line, beginning November 29, 1885, and continuing until the completion of its own track from San Bernardino. This road was built in March and April, 1887, from San Bernardino along the foothills to a junction with the Los Angeles & San Gabriel Valley Railroad at the San Gabriel river. Regular trains began running on this road on June 1 of that year. It is owned by the California Central, a local company. Branch roads of this system were built in 1888 to Ballona Harbor and Redondo Beach, and also to Orange, connecting with another branch running from San Bernardino to San Diego.
In 1884, was commenced the construction of the Los Angeles & San Gabriel Valley Railroad, by a corporation headed by Hon. J. F. Crank, of Pasadena. Its completion to Pasadena was celebrated by an excursion, September 17, 1885. In 1887 it was extended to the San Gabriel river, and the same year it was transferred to the Santa Fé system.
In 1889 the Los Angeles & Pacific Railway was completed to Santa Monica. Its chief promoters were M. L. Wicks and R. C. Shaw. It runs from the northwest part of the city towards the Cahuenga pass, and thence along the Santa Monica mountains to the city of that name. It is standard gauge.
The first locomotive built in Los Angeles was put up at the Baker Iron Works in 1889, for the Los Angeles & Pacific Railroad. It was designed by Fred. L. Baker, and it was named the "Providencia." It weighed fifteen tons.
The first bricks were made in 1852, by Captain Jesse D. Hunter. From the first kiln was built the house at the corner of Main and Third streets; from the second, burned in 1853, the new jail.
The first English-speaking school in Los Angeles was taught by Rev. Dr. Hicks in 1850.
The first American child native of Los Angeles was John Greggs Nichols, born April 15, 1851.
The first newspaper, called the Los Angeles Star, was established in May, 1851.
On November 12, some unknown assassins made an unsuccessful attempt to murder Judge Benjamin Hayes in the door of his office on Main street.
On August 16, 1852, the United States Land Commission met at Los Angeles to settle private land claims.
In this year " spirit rappings " caused much excitement at San Gabriel.
In 1863 Henry Hancock made the first survey of the city, when the thirty-five-acre lots were surveyed and donated to actual settlers. In 1853, Lieutenant Williamson briefly surveyed Southern California for a railroad route, under the military escort of Lieutenant (now General and ex-Governor) Stoneman.
In 1853, the town contained three dry goods stores.
From 1850 to 1853, the Indian tribes of the Mohave desert gave much trouble by stealing livestock and murdering ranchers.
The rising of Antonio Garra, chief of Agua Caliente, in the fall of 1851, spread through Los Angeles fears of a general insurrection from Tulare to San Diego. Regulars and volunteers were accordingly mustered to guard against the danger, and when this soon passed away these organizations still existed. The regulars and San Diego volunteers were under Captain George Fitzgerald. The Los Angeles volunteers were commanded by General J. H. Bean; Myron Norton, Colonel and chief of staff; S. Bolivar Cox and B. S. Eaton, corporals; Hon. A. C. Rolfe, William Nordholt and many who are dead, were in this service. The exposed position of this region for a long time thereafter, in the Kern river and Mohave wars, and other troubles, kept officers of the United States army here and not seldom in active service. Among these gentlemen who possessed the regard of the people were: Colonel B. Beall, Majors Edward H. Fitzgerald and George H. Blake, Captains Davidson and Lovell, and Winfield Scott Hancock.
In the spring of 1850 the resident population of the city scarcely exceeded 2,500, which had increased in January, 1853, to about 3,000, including 300 from the United States, and among these a large proportion of families. On those days of disorder, the peaceful slumber of these citizens were guarded by the voluntary police of 100 men, under Dr. A. W. Hope, as chief. Among the lieutenants and privates were, in July, 1851, Messrs. Alexander, Olvera, S. C. Foster, Ogier, Brent, Joseph Yancey, Wheeler, J. G. Downey, Nichols, F. L. Guirado, Kellar, Hayes, and Juan Sepulveda. Later on, the streets were often enlivened by the martial tread of the military companies required from time to time.
In February, 1854, Samuel C. Foy started his saddlery—the first to make any kind of harness.
The first hospital, "The Los Angeles Infirmary for the Sick," was opened May 31, 1858, at the house of Don Cristobal Aguilar, by the Sisters of Charity. These ladies had come to Los Angeles in 1855, from their mother-house at St. Joseph's, Emmetsburg, Maryland; they subsequently erected in the upper part of the city an extensive hospital of brick, with surrounding garden and orchard.
In 1854, Los Angeles boasted of 4,000 inhabitants. In that year, the first Masonic lodge received its charter, and also the first hive of bees was received, it having been purchased by O. W. Childs, for $150, in San Francisco. During this year, a tannery was opened; an Odd Fellows lodge was organized, and bull fighting was legally prohibited.
During 1854 there was no police force, and the average number of violent deaths in the city was not less than one a day. Although mostly of low-class Mexicans and Indians many murders occurred of persons in the higher walks of life. In August the supervisors appropriated $1,000 for the opening of a wagon-road over the mountains between the San Fernando Mission and the San Francisco Rancho. The 22nd of February, 1855, was celebrated by the City Guards, Captain W. W. Twist, and their first anniversary ball was given in May. Ringgold's Light Artillery was organized on June 7, of that year. The Los Angeles Rangers was an older body; the Legislature of 1854 had appropriated $4,000 for their equipment. They celebrated their first anniversary on August 6, of that year. They had always proved efficient. In March, 1855, there was great excitement over the Kern river mines, for which destination the steamers from San Francisco brought many passengers. In April, Alexander Banning and W. T. B. Sanford sent out fifteen ten-mule teams, with 60,000 pounds of assorted merchandise for Salt Lake. In this year Abel Stearns and John R. Scott built a brick flouring-mill. Several festival days were celebrated by public demonstrations.
Abel Stearns and J. R. Scott built the first flouring mill in 1855.
In 1856 vigilance committees were formed at Los Angeles and San Gabriel.
In 1856, took place the first legalized hanging.
The year 1857 witnessed the erection of some improved buildings, and the founding of the Anaheim colony. Sheriff Barton and his party were murdered by Flores and his band near Santa Ana.
In March, 1857, a rifle company was formed, under Captain Twist; and in May the French infantry corps, 105 strong, Captain C. A. Faralle.
The news of the massacre at Mountain Meadows in September caused much excitement in Los Angeles, where a mass meeting was called to investigate the facts, and resolutions were passed condemning the Mormons. Another public meeting in December protested against the sale of arms to the Mormons, and censured Los Angeles merchants for shipping arms and ammunition to Salt Lake.
On February 25, 1858, a fire originating on Los Angeles street destroyed $30,000 to $50,000 worth of property. In March were begun regular terms of the United States District Court. In June the Surveyor-General of California made a demand on the county recorder for all public records of Los Angeles County pertaining to its history under Spanish and Mexican rule. There was felt some local indignation that the official was obliged to accede to the demand, and remit the records to San Francisco. On October 7, salutes of cannon were fired to celebrate the arrival of the pioneer semi-weekly overland stage, twenty days out from the Missouri river. This year witnessed a rise in real estate, the arrival of several bodies of American soldiery, bound for inland points, and various depredations and murders committed by neighboring tribes of Indians. The number of voters in the city was now 600.
In 1859 was issued the first United States patent to a citizen of Los Angeles, it being to Don Manuel Dominguez for the San Pedro Rancho.
In February, 1859, the contract for the construction of a city hall and market-house was let to John Temple for $30,000. Work was begun in March and finished in September on the edifice still known as " the court-house." The City Council borrowed $200,000 for making improvements. In this year were erected thirty-one brick buildings, including the Arcadia block, and two stories of the Temple block. Trade with Utah was active this year, one month witnessing the departure of sixty wagons for Salt Lake. On April 19 a contract was let for the construction of a telegraph line between Los Angeles and San Jose. There were now eleven attorneys and seven physicians resident in the city. The voting population was 1,020. This was a year of " hard times." In 1860 there was considerable emigration from this county to Texas, owing to the difficulty which white laborers experienced in procuring work, as most of the vineyardists employed Indians and Chinamen. In July, General Frémont, visiting Los Angeles, was greeted with a salute of fifteen guns. On October 8, the first telegraph message to Los Angeles was received by the mayor, Henry Mellus. In November the city was visited by Lady Franklin, widow of Sir John Franklin.
In 1860 the population was 4,500; and the first telegraph line was constructed.
On Christmas eve, 1861, began a rain which lasted without intermission till January 17, 1862, on which day, at three o'clock P.M. fell tremendous torrents of water, accompanied by heavy thunder and lightning. At Los Angeles, comparatively little damage was done by this flood; the city dam was broken, some adobe houses fell, and travel was impeded, besides the inconvenience occasioned by the delay of the arrival of the "Brother Jonathan" at San Pedro. At El Monte the river made a new channel, menacing the town of Lexington; but the danger was averted by the energy of the inhabitants. On the Santa Ana, thirty miles above Anaheim, the flood destroyed the thriving new Mexican settlement of Agua Mansa (Gentle Water). There was no loss of life, but every sign of former culture was obliterated by the waste of sand which the waters spread over the whole valley, and 500 souls were turned out homeless on the surrounding hills. The rains extended to the Mohave and San Diego rivers.
In May, 1861, a grand Union demonstration took place here. Phineas Banning presented a national banner to the Union Club on behalf of the citizens, and a company of volunteers was raised, to form a part of the 5,000 ordered from California. In October the regular troops were concentrated at San Pedro to embark for the East on a Panama steamer. A subscription of $100 per month was raised by the citizens, to receive from the East daily war dispatches.
In January, 1862, three steamers at one time were unloading troops at San Pedro, where at one time were encamped 4,000 men. There were also other encampments in the county. In November, small-pox broke out among the Los Angeles Indians, and spread rapidly. There was also an epidemic of measles.
During the first months of 1863, the smallpox raged to such an extent among the Indians as to carry off a majority of them in the city, besides a great number in other portions of the county. Many Mexicans, chiefly of the lower order, perished also, before the epidemic subsided, "for want of further material to work upon." July 4 was not celebrated in the city this year, but at Camp Ballona harbor. On July 31 a detachment of troops from Drum barracks encamped in the city to afford protection to the Unionists. In September occurred a great exodus of miners to the Colorado river, many prospectors from the upper country passing through Los Angeles to the mines at La Paz. On November 9, J. J. Warner, who had been appointed Deputy Provost Marshal for Los Angeles began the enrollment preparatory to the draft. On December 25, Captain B. H. West issued from Drum barracks an order notifying all persons on Catalina Island to leave before February 1, 1864. Companies of soldiers were stationed in Los Angeles all this year to preserve the peace. The Utah trade continued good, notwithstanding the war. In 1864 there was another small-pox epidemic. In February reports of fresh strikes in the mines occasioned another rush of miners to the Colorado. In May J. F. Bilderbeck was arrested for disloyalty, in consequence of strong language he had used in speaking of the Fort Pillow massacre. The Fourth of July was not celebrated this year. In September the troops were withdrawn from Catalina Island, and about the same time Fort Tejon was abandoned. Union rallies and processions were held in October and November. Business was dull, and times exceedingly hard, this year.
In 1865 many large Mexican land grants were subdivided. On April 19 there was a large public funeral procession in respect to the death of President Lincoln. Business was suspended, and all parties joined in observing the day. The Fourth of July was enthusiastically celebrated this year. There was much sporadic disease during the summer. Business prospects were better, and fine orchards were planted, and vineyards enlarged and improved in every direction.
In 1866 the Salt Lake trade became extensive, reaching as far as Bannock, Idaho, 450 miles beyond Salt Lake, or over 1,200 miles from Los Angeles. Goods were shipped with teams overland all the way to Helena, Montana, a distance of about 1,400 miles.
On June 13, 1867, a fire on Los Angeles street destroyed $64,000 worth of property. On July 1 a brass band was organized. The Fourth was not celebrated here this year. On August 10-11, the Mexican citizens held a great celebration of the anniversary of the conclusion of the Mexican war, and of the surrender of the city of Mexico into the hands of the Liberals. Trade was exceedingly brisk this year with Utah, Montana, and Arizona. Of the Los Angeles of this time, Major Ben. C. Truman gives the following unflattering picture: "Crooked, unpaved streets; land lean; adobe houses with asphaltum roofs; with here and there an indolent native hugging himself inside a blanket, or burying his head in the inside of a watermelon,—were then the notable features of this quondam Mexican town."
In 1867 were established gas-works and a castor-oil mill. In 1868, the Los Angeles City Water Company obtained a franchise; and the first railroad was built, it being twenty-two miles long, and uniting the city with the harbor at San Pedro. The same year, the first fire company was organized, and entered upon its duties at once.
In 1867 the city was first lighted with gas; and this year also, Dr. Griffin and Hon. B. D. Wilson, by means of a ditch costing some $15,000, brought the water of the Arroyo Seco out upon the lands of the San Pasqual Rancho.
On January 20, 1868, D. Marchessault, mayor of the city, committed suicide by shooting, whilst in his office. This year the third survey of the city was made by George Hassen; the Los Angeles & San Pedro Railroad was incorporated, the county owning the stock; work was begun by the Canal & Reservoir Company upon a canal and reservoir, which long supplied the Union Ice Works; the City Water Company was organized; the first bank was organized by Alvinza Hayward and John G. Downey, under the firm name of Hayward & Co., with a capital of $100,000; and, later in the year, was organized the banking-house of Hellman, Temple & Co. The new Masonic Hall was dedicated September 29. A severe form of typho-malarial fever ravaged the city in the autumn. From this year the real growth of the city may be dated. Writing in 1876, Benjamin Hays describes it as follows: "At this time, the fall of 1868, there was no three-story building in the town, while the only two-story business houses were the old Lafayette, the older portion of the Bella Union, with the stores of Barrows and Childs on Los Angeles street, Stearns' block, Bell's block, a portion of the Lanfranco building, the older portion of the United States Hotel, Allen's corner, the courthouse, with the part of Temple block facing it, and a two-story adobe where Temple's bank now stands. The portion of Downey block facing toward the Temple bank had a few one-story adobe rooms, with a wide gateway in the middle opening into a corral. This gateway had connected with it somewhat of a tragic history, as upon the cross-bar above, five desperados were hanged at one time by the Vigilance Committee. The Round-house (an old landmark on Main street; Y. H. A.) was then upon the outskirts of the town. Captain Clark's house was fairly in the country, but little of the property around being even fenced in. The hills above town and across the river, now dotted with houses, were then bleak and bare. East Los Angeles had not yet even been dreamed of."
In 1869 there was a great demand for houses and an unprecedented advance in real estate; but, although building and improvements were going on with vigor and rapidity, a financial depression still existed. In the early part of the year, small-pox raged in the Mexican quarter. On October 24, the French Benevolent Society, with much ceremony, laid the corner-stone of their proposed hospital. On October 26, an excursion of two trains carried 1,500 people free over the newly completed road to Wilmington.
In February, 1870, there was a veritable epidemic of fires, which destroyed many stores and other buildings. The various fraternal organizations were now celebrating their respective festivals with considerable regularity, and many improvements were talked of; including street railways. There was a large amount of freighting to the Owens river country. There were now circulated petitions and protests, memorializing the Legislature on the question of the division of Los Angeles County on the line of the San Gabriel river, to create the new county of Anaheim on the east side. The mayor and the town council were arrested this year, owing to exciting rumors that they had issued scrip unlawfully; but the rumors proved unfounded. To facilitate the compilation of a directory, the buildings in the business portion of the city were ordered to be numbered. Liquor was regularly retailed at this time at 110 different places in the city, and for months drunkenness and shooting were rampant, particularly among the Indians of the town. " Nigger alley," now Upper Los Angeles street, was one of the vilest resorts imaginable.
In March, 1871, an ice machine was put in operation, its product retailing at four cents per pound. In May, tri-weekly mails were established between Los Angeles and San Bernardino.
The Downey block was erected this year. In October occurred the great Chinese massacre.
On October 31, was inaugurated the fair of of the Southern District Agricultural Society, which continued to hold these fairs with great success for several years after.
August 5, 1872, was celebrated by the Chinese all over the world as the day of lamentation for their countrymen who were lynched in Los Angeles the preceding year. Four priests came from San Francisco to conduct the public ceremonies held at Los Angeles. On October 26 was held the last bull-fight at Los Angeles.
On October 29 a fire, originating in the explosion of a coal-oil lamp, destroyed Packard & Company's distillery on the east bank of the river, occasioning a loss of about $60,000.
The first woolen-mill was established in 1872; and the next year the public library was founded.
In 1874 the first fruit-drying establishment was erected, it being on an extensive scale. In 1875 a broom factory and an artificial stone works began operations. In the spring of this year the " Forest Grove Association " planted the first extensive tract of eucalyptus or blue-gum for timber.
In 1874 the Spring and Sixth street horse railroad (the first here) was completed. The Sunday law began to be enforced. It was estimated that at least $300,000 was expended in the erection of business houses this year. In September the Eagle flouring-mills, which had cost some$40,000 eight or nine years before, were destroyed by fire. The population of the city was now estimated at 11,000.
In 1875 were erected the Roman Catholic cathedral and many other buildings, amounting in total value to $260,000. Considerable property was destroyed by fires. In December a movement was on foot among the merchants to have the steamers of Goodall, Nelson & Perkins stop at Santa Monica. Also an effort was made by the citizens to have work resumed on the Los Angeles & Independence Railroad, building from Los Angeles by way of Cajon pass to Independence. The population was now estimated at 11,000.
During 1876 the city was still rapidly improving. In June anti-Chinese meetings were the order of the day. In this the Centennial year, the Fourth of July was celebrated with incomparably more pomp and noise than usual. This was the greatest celebration of American Independence ever held in the city. Phineas Banning was the president of the day, James J. Ayers, poet, and James G. Eastman, orator. General Andres Pico and Manuel Requena died this year. December 28 the Eagle Mills were burned a second time.
On August 4, 1877, Hon. Benjamin Hayes, formerly Judge of the district, died. He had lived in Los Angeles County twenty-seven years, and had contributed invaluable matter to its historical records, both by his own writings from reminiscences, and by his habit of carefully preserving all historical scraps, data and clippings.
In January, 1878, a fight between squatters and natives at the Ranchito resulted in the killing of two Mexicans. In February the I. O. O. F. hall was dedicated. There also was built the grand pavilion of the Southern California Horticultural Society, the first fair in which was held in October of this year. Building was now going on with more animation than ever before. An area of 18,000 acres of land in the San Fernando valley was burned over in September. In this month a large sum was raised by the Angeleños for the yellow-fever sufferers of Memphis.
In 1879 defalcations were found in the accounts of two city treasurers, Mellus and Butler; and of tax collector Carrillo. The deficiencies amounted to over $17,000. This year was marked by several notable anniversary celebrations, and by extensive fires in the mountain forests. Vigorous measures were adopted for the renovation of Chinatown. In this year E. J. C. Kewen, a notable citizen, soldier, orator and lawyer, died.
During 1880 General B. F. Butler, of Massachusetts, visited Los Angeles. In this year occurred in the county jail a notable suicide, that of Samuel R. Koyle, an old defaulting tax collector from Georgia, who was arrested here, shooting himself while he was held pending the arrival of the requisition papers.
September 5, 1881, was the centennial anniversary of the founding of the city of Los Angeles. It was celebrated with a grand procession which required twenty minutes to pass a given point. Business generally was suspended, and the people gave themselves over to a holiday. Main street was decorated with festoons bearing the dates 1781--1881. General George Stoneman, afterward Governor of California, was grand marshal of the day. A prominent feature of the procession was an old-time Mexican cart, drawn by oxen, and containing two Mexican women, one aged 103, and the other 117 years. In this month was held in the Temple street pavilion, the horticultural fair, with a very large attendance. On the 27th the obsequies of the late President Garfield were observed by a large procession and literary exercises.
On January 10, 1882, was burned the Esperanza block, opposite the court-house, on Main street, with the store it contained, a total loss of $75,000. This year was begun the construction of the Nadeau block, the first four-story building in the city; also the Normal School building. The Magnetic Observatory of the United States was now removed here from Madison, Wisconsin. This spring there was a strong political agitation relative to the enforcement of the Sunday law, particularly as concerned the closing of saloons; this question almost monopolized the courts, to the exclusion of other business, with great expense to the taxpayers. This item also figured in the political campaign of that year, resulting in the election of the Democratic candidates throughout the State, by an immense majority, and in the elimination of the Sunday-law from the statute-books, by the next Legislature.
In this year was tried in the Superior Court of Los Angeles the remarkable case of Josiah V. Smith, for the murder of his son, prompted, he claimed, by a command from Heaven!
On January 20, 1883, occurred the terrible railroad accident of the Tehachepi pass, in which over twenty lost their lives. It was about three o'clock in the morning, and very dark, when the passenger train bound for Los Angeles stopped at the station of Tehachepi, which is just west of the summit of the Sierra Nevada mountains. A very strong, cold wind was blowing down the mountain pass; the engine was detached for the purpose of making a necessary change; the conductor went into the office to make his report; and the brakeman left the train, to escort a passenger to the station. It is supposed that the brakes had been set insecurely, or not set at all. When the conductor came back to where the train should have been, the train was gone, and he saw two or three miles down the track a great light which proved to be the missing cars burning! It was supposed that the hard wind that usually prevails at Tehachepi pass had started the train down the heavy grade, and before the passengers had suspected that aught was wrong, they had attained a terrible velocity, and in rounding a curve had leaped the track into a ravine, where, massed in a crushed heap, they had been ignited from the lamps and stove-fires. The surviving passengers crawled out of the debris, and rescued whom they could. Among those thus saved was ex-Governor Downey, but his noble wife, who was of an old native family named Guirado, was so completely consumed that no identification of her remains was possible. The dead and wounded were brought to Los Angeles, where a few of the twenty-two corpses were identified by relatives and friends, while the others were buried in Evergreen Cemetery.
In July and August of this year Los Angeles was visited by numerous delegations of Knights Templar, en route to attend the triennial conclave at San Francisco.
On January 9, 1884, Charles Whitehead, editor of the Republican, a daily evening paper, was shot, while in his office, by T. S. Harris, the ex-foreman of the paper. Harris was convicted and sentenced to imprisonment at San Quentin, but was pardoned by Governor Stoneman in less than a year. On February 18, after several days of heavy rain, the river rose rapidly, swept away a number of houses, drowned several people, and destroyed considerable property. On May 24, Mlle. Rhea, appearing in "The School for Scandal," dedicated the first theater or opera house in the city, which was built by O. W. Childs. This year was commenced the large and fine Sisters' Hospital on Beaudry Park Hill. Also, the city council built substantial bridges across the river at First and at Aliso streets. The presidential campaign was particularly lively in Los Angeles. Four parties, Republicans, Democrats, Prohibitionists, and Greenbackers, were in the field with full tickets, strongly organized. For the first tune since the formation of the county in 1850, the Republicans were able to elect a majority of the officers. In December the municipal election was overwhelmingly Republican.
This year the city purchased from G. J. Griffith his fractional interest in the title to the water of the river, paying $50,000; now also, Ygnacio Sepulveda resigned his position as superior judge, and removed to the city of Mexico. The population of the city this year was estimated at 31,000. The year 1885 had a notable necrological record: on March 8, Phineas Banning died in San Francisco, and on the 12th, he was buried in the Los Angeles Rosedale Cemetery; on the 20th, were hanged two sentenced murderers, the first legal executions in many years in this county; on April 15, died Henry Stassforth, a well-known citizen; and on the 19th, Andres Briswalter, who left a very large estate, which caused considerable litigation. On June 5, died at the age of fifty-six, a noted pioneer, Dr. Vincent Gelcich; and on the 27th, Colonel J. F. Godfrey, a soldier and an attorney at law, aged forty-five years; on August 17, Daniel Mooney, a well-known character, was shot and killed near Santa Monica; on September 2, died, aged fifty-six, J. E. Hollenbeck, a noted pioneer and capitalist; and on the 18th, Colonel E. S. Blasdel died at Florence; on October 9, occurred the remarkable disappearance of Miss Lizzie Parker from the house of Mrs. Vantrees; and on the 13th, died Al F. Scheffelin, one of the discoverers of the famous Tombstone mine of Arizona. In this year occurred also a number of sensational criminal cases, including the suit of Louise C. Perkins against E. J. Baldwin for breach of promise, which came to trial in February, 1886, judgment being rendered for plaintiff in the sum of $75,000. This was set aside as excessive, and the defendant finally compromised by paying the plaintiff $12,000. On April 21, ground was broken for the Second Street Cable Railway, whose cars began running in October. In the month of May Senator John Sherman, and in August, Sir Arthur Sullivan, of literary fame, visited Los Angeles. During the summer was built the first city hall on Second street. On September 16 an excursion celebrated the completion of the Los Angeles & San Gabriel Valley Railroad to Pasadena. On October 1, Charles E. Miles, who was immediately succeeded in office by Frank A. Gibson, was arrested for embezzlement of $12,000 of the public funds; he was subsequently discharged from custody on repaying the money in court.
The year 1886 opened with a strong advance in real estate, and the sales during the year amounted to $28,204,759. On January 19, the river overflowed all that portion of the city lying between Wilmington street and the bluff on the east side, drowning a number of people, and destroying a vast deal of property. So extensively were the levees washed away and the railroads washed out, that for about a week the city was without railroad communication. On the day of the flood, Martin Aguirre saved the lives of twenty persons, mostly children, by going to them on horseback, having in one instance a narrow escape with his own life.
In September the Republican State Convention was held in Los Angeles for the first time. At the county election the offices were divided nearly evenly between the Democrats and the Republicans.
In November, another murderer was executed.
The year 1887 opened eventfully. Several large excursion trains arrived from the East. On January 14, Lorena, the daughter of Dr. T. C. Gale, was run over by a train on Alameda street, receiving injuries from which she died three days later. On the 14th, died Remi Nadeau, who built the Nadeau block. On the 21st, George Robertson, arrested for arson, inflicted upon himself such injuries as caused his death in a few hours. On the 23d, Samuel Keefer, a hotel man at Monrovia, committed suicide.
On the 29th President Cleveland signed the bill appropriating $150,000 for the erection of a Federal building in Los Angeles. The oil well, No. 6, at Puente, gave out on the 31st, the first flow of oil in the district. During this month was founded the town of Clearwater, on the lands of the co-operative colony, who had bought from the Cerritos rancho.
On February 4, passed the Legislature a bill providing for two superior judges, making a total of four. On the 3d had been laid the corner-stone of the Baptist College. On the 7th, A. W. Hutton and W. P. Gardner were appointed superior judges, and the same day a banquet was given at the Nadeau House, to Brigadier-General Nelson A. Miles, in honor of his transfer of the headquarters of the Department of Arizona from that territory to this city. On the 14th, the barkentine St. Louis, and the ship Kennebec, 2,000 tons burden, were wrecked at San Pedro. This month the sale was announced of the Los Angeles & San Gabriel Railroad to the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fé Company. A grand excursion to Ballona marked the completion of the road to that place; the postoffice was removed from the Oxarart block to the Hellman building on Main, opposite Arcadia street.
On March 1, was opened the Woman's Home, on Fourth street, an enterprise partially self-supporting, and partially supported from the proceeds of an annual flower festival, held since 1885, for the benefit of self-sustaining women and girls. During this month the celebrated apostle of American phrenology, Professor O. S. Fowler, appeared in Los Angeles for the last time. Other noted visitors were Monseigneur Capel and Charles Dudley Warner. On the 26th it was discovered that E. Hammond, the county tax-collector, had absconded to British Columbia with $12,000 of the public money.
On April 1 was witnessed the rare spectacle of 500 men standing in line all night long on Court street, awaiting their turn to buy lots in the new town boom, the sale of which commenced the next morning at nine o'clock. Places in this line sold for as high as $150. The Real Estate Exchange, that ran about a year, was incorporated in this month. On the 12th, the annual flower festival was opened in Hazard's pavilion. Mrs. E. A. Cox was killed by the cars at the Downey street crossing. Hon. J. F. Crank and Herman Silver paid the city $10,000 cash for a double-track cable-road franchise, which was transferred to a Chicago syndicate two years later. The University Bank opened its doors on the 18th.
On May 2, Erskine M. Russ was appointed Judge of the new United States District Court of Southern California. On the 11th, Grettie Rozelle threw a cupful of vitriol in the face of C. R. Petrie, a locomotive engineer, who finally recovered: The woman was acquitted, but her husband, who was not present at the commission of the crime, was sentenced to nine years in State prison. Dr. J. S. Baker, City Health Officer, died of heart disease on the 15th. The McLaughlin steam dummy lie of cars was completed from Second street to the Cahuenga valley on the 18th. During this month the National Opera Troupe of 300 people performed at the pavilion.
On June 1, Santa Fé trains began running overland to San Bernardino. On the 6th, ex-Mayor E. F. Spence donated $50,000 for the establishment of an astronomical observatory on Wilson's Peak. Two brothers, named Hutchinson, killed in Tejunga Cañon a grizzly bear cub weighing 700 pounds.
In July, Judge W. A. Cheney, of the Superior Court, sustained the prohibition ordinance of Pasadena city. Catalina Island was sold by the Lick estate to George R. Shatto.
In the earlier half of August two wife-murders were committed in the city. The corner-stone of the new Turnverein Hall was laid on the 14th. The Downey street depot was burned on the 24th. The old Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church South was burned on the 29th.
On the night of October 7 a barn near Compton was burned, and the next day there were found in the ashes the charred remains of a human being, the teeth of which were identified as those of Dr. Charles N. Harlan. The crime was charged upon Miss Hattie Wolfsteen, with whom Harlan had been connected, and she was tried, but was acquitted. On the 21st, the Chinese residents celebrated their triennial festival with a great programme, including a magnificent street parade. Cardinal Gibbons, of the Roman Catholic Church, visited the city on the 24th. The corner-stone of the Los Angeles College was laid on the 26th. The Santa Fé depot was burned on the 28th, the burning with it of an oil train preventing its extinguishment. The division of water occasioned trouble between the Azusa and Covina neighborhoods in this month. Both parties sent armed forces into the San Gabriel cañon, but the interposition of the courts averted serious trouble.
November, 1, 1887, the California Bank opened. On the 21st the first vestibuled train arrived from Boston. This month there was a coal famine, which lasted several weeks. General Franklin, of the Soldiers' Home Commission, examined the proposed sites for a home hereabouts, and selected the present place near Santa Monica. The Republicans and the Democrats agreed upon a joint ticket of fifteen freeholders to draft a new city charter.
December 18, 1887, witnessed many casualties; on the 3d there were ninety-eight horses consumed in the livery stable of Nicolas Covarrubias, destroyed by fire; the 14th, a high wind blew down a hotel at La Cañada, killing one woman, and seriously injuring various other persons; the large hotel at North Cucamonga, was totally demolished; the upper story of a building at Ontario was blown off; the new hotel at Lordsburg, in process of construction, was destroyed, at a loss of $20,000; and many buildings were blown down in Los Angeles and Pasadena. This wind blew from the east, and its highest velocity in Los Angeles was forty-six miles per hour.
In January, 1888, a destructive fire was in Los Angeles; ground was broken for the new city hall on Fort street; Los Angeles street was opened from Arcadia to Alameda streets; and Mr. and Mrs. Hitchcock were murdered at Garden Grove, by a German named Anschlag, who was tried, convicted and sentenced to be hung in Los Angeles.
In February, 1888, Booth and Barrett appeared at the Opera House.
In March, 1888, a destructive fire occurred, and in the same month N. R. Vail, of Los Angeles, was drowned at Redondo Beach.
In May the Democratic State Convention was held in Los Angeles; the proposed new charter was defeated.
In August the coast line of the Santa Fé system opened between Los Angeles and San Diego.
In September the Sovereign Grand Lodge of the World, I. O. O. F., met at Los Angeles. The postoffice was removed from Main street to Fort, between Sixth and Seventh.
On October 20 was adopted a new charter which increased the city wards from five to nine, providing for a salaried councilman from each ward. This charter had been framed by a nonpartisan board of freeholders, and it was confirmed by the Legislature. The presidential campaign was now very active, both political parties holding numberless meetings, processions, etc.
On November 5 was held the National election. This month Brigadier General Miles was transferred to San Francisco, being succeded in the Department of Arizona in Los Angeles by General B. H. Grierson.
In December, at the municipal election, the Democrats elected the mayor and a majority of the council. As a result of the introduction of a bill in Congress by General William Vandever, representative from the Sixth Congressional District, looking to a division of the State, a large mass meeting was held in Los Angeles, which passed resolutions favoring the creation of the State of "South California," and an extensive committee was elected to take charge of the campaign on that question.
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.