Germans in Los Angeles - Chapter I This file is a part of a manuscript entitled "The Germans in Los Angeles County California 1850 - 1900" by Lamberta Margarette Voget, written in February, 1933. Scanning and OCR by Joy Fisher ------------------------------------------------------------------ USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ----------------------------------------------------------------- CHAPTER I GERMAN BEGINNINGS IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY The Germans of Los Angeles County have kept their identity to a remarkable degree; this has been due largely to the cooperative fostering of national customs, traditions and language. The social, religious, and industrial interests of this part of the foreign population 'have held them together, and have prospered them sufficiently to make their influence during the course of the years a distinct force in the history of the city and county. Their zest in living, their love of work, and their loyalty to each other as well as to their adopted country, make a study of their life in this western land a pleasure indeed. The first German to come to Los Angeles was Johann Groningen, or, as he was called by the Mexicans, Juan Domingo. The circumstances under which this unique person arrived in the little Spanish pueblo where somewhat peculiar. He had been a carpenter on the ship Danube" which vessel was wrecked at San Pedro in 1829, [1] and on Christmas day, along with the rest of the crew, he found his way into Los Angeles, where he remained. Juan worked at his carpenter's trade, purchased property and continued as a regular resident, with a Miss Feliz as his bride. Later he planted a vineyard on Alameda between Aliso and First streets, at which location he resided until his death on December 18, 1858. The first survey of the foreign population of Los Angeles County was made in 1836, Later this report was translated from the Spanish by Stephen C. Foster and published in the Daily Evening Express of February 11, 1876.[2] Juan Domingo was the only German out of the forty-six foreigners listed. Before the death of this pioneer, however, great changes had begun, and Germans were becoming more and more prominent in the life of the town. GERMAN LIFE IN EARLY LOS ANGELES A comparatively large number of Germans were present in the county of Los Angeles from the beginning of the period under consideration. Of one hundred and eighty-one foreign-born persons in the city, excluding those who were born in Mexico, thirty-four were Germans. [3] Harris Newmark, in his book, Sixty Years in Southern California, gives interesting sketches of life among these early German pioneers as he remembered it. Much of the business carried on at that time was in the hands of Germans, Carl Felix Heinzeman had a drug store which grew to be the largest south of San Francisco. [4] Hermann Heinsch was engaged in the harness and saddlery business, an occupation of far greater importance in those days than now, and also took active part in the social activities of the Germans, being interested in music and languages. Several Germans were engaged in the dry goods business, among whom were Herman Schlesinger and Tobias Sherwinsky, who had formed a firm, the possessions of which were sold to Moritz Schlesinger, the younger brother of the former, for fourteen thousand dollars. [6] Baruch Marks, Louis Schlesinger and Hyman Tischler conducted a general merchandise business under the firm name, B. Marks and Company. [7] Sam Meyer and Hilliard Loewenstein were in the dry goods business from 1853 to 1856, the latter being the date upon which Mr. Loewenstein returned to Germany. [7] John Behn, who had come from Baden in 1848, had a grocery business at First and Los Angeles streets from which he retired in 1853. [8] Another groceryman was John Schumacher, who had made for himself a place in the life of the city which Mr. New-mark describes in the following words: [9] He put on sale the first lager beer introduced into Los Angeles, importing the same from San Francisco, of which enterprise the genial German was proud; but Schumacher acquired even more fame for a drink that he may be said to have invented, and which was known to the early settlers as Peach and Honey. It contained a good mixture with peach brandy, and was a great favorite, especially with politicians and frequenters of the neighboring Courthouse, including well-known members of the Bar, all of whom crowded John's place, "between times," to enjoy his much-praised concoction. Whenever in fact anyone had a cold, or fancied that he was going to be so afflicted, he hastened to John for his reputedly-certain cure. That such a contribution to the thirst of the early Germans meant much in their social activities is emphasized in the following description of Jake Phillippi's "Kneipe", taken from the same source: [10] His was a large room, with a bar along the west side. The floor was generously sprinkled with sawdust, and in comfortable armchairs, around the good, old-fashioned redwood tables, frequently sat many of his German friends and patrons, gathered together to indulge in a game of Pedro, skat or whist, and to pass the time pleasantly away. Some of those who thus met together at Jake's, at somewhat different periods of his occupancy, were Dr. Joseph Kurtz, H. Heinsch, Conrad Jacoby, Abe Haas, C. F. Heinzeman, P. Lazarus, Edward Pollitz, A. Elsaesser and B, F. Drackenfeld. . . Most of these convivial frequenters at Phillippi's belonged to a sort of Deutscher Klub which met, at another period, in a little room in the rear of the corner of Main and Requena streets, just over the cool cellar then conducted by Bayer & Satter, A stairway connected the two floors, and by means of that communication the Klub obtained its supply of lager beer. Another German of the earliest days whose career is enlightening, but not so complimentary, was Philip Rheim, whose little store and saloon were called Los dos Amigos. [11] He had married a native woman and had become a Californian in manners, custom and name, being frequently call Don Felipe. That he could enter into the typical life of the Los Angeleno of those far-off days was amply demonstrated when, on the last evening of 1853, he appeared in a highly- intoxicated state at the store where young Mr. Newmark was working. [12] A gun was in his hand and was being brandished in a dangerous manner. Mr. Newmark, in recalling the incident, writes: His celebration of the New Year has apparently commenced and he was already six sheets in the wind. Like many another man, Felipe, a very worthy German, was good-natured when sober, but a terror when drunk; and as soon as he spied my solitary figure, he pointed his gun at me, saying, at the same time, in his vigorous native tongue, "Treat, or I shoot!" I treated. After this pleasing transaction amid the smoky obscurity of Ramon Alexander's saloon, Felipe fired his gun into the air and disappeared. GERMAN FEELING AND ACTIVITIES IN LOS ANGELES DURING THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR The Franco-Prussian War of 1870 aroused strong feeling among the German element in Los Angeles, The Star for August 6, 1870, contains a call issued by a committee from the Turn Verein for all Germans of the city to gather at Teutonia Hall for a mass meeting to discuss the war and to take steps toward raising a relief fund. As a result of this, a large number of Germans gathered, expressed their views on the war, took measures to raise a Sanitary Fund, elected officers and appointed a committee to draft resolutions. [14] The resolutions as drawn up are of interest as indicating the feeling of at least one type of German upon this European crisis. For this reason they are quoted in full as published in the Star for August 12, 1870: [15] WHEREAS, We are of the unanimous opinion that the war which has been declared by France against Prussia,, has been initiated in a shameful, insolent and quite unprovoked manner, and threatens not only Prussia, but the whole of Germany; and Whereas, The German soldier does not draw his sword in the present war in the interest of crown and sceptres, but as man and hero in inevitable self-defense, which has been forced upon him, and for the honor and national existence of our beloved German Fatherland, in this entirely, and Whereas, We therefore, do not deem this war a party quarrel of Prussia, but national war of the whole German race, in the fullest sense and meaning of the word, which calls for the most undivided sympathies of every German heart, wheresoever in the world it may beat: Resolved. 1, That we consider it our, duty, as native-born Germans, to express our sympathies with out brethern, now doing battle, in a substantial and tangible manner, 2. That, to effect such purpose, we will select a committee, whose duty it shall be to make collections for the benefit of the wounded, and the widows and orphans of the killed. 3. That such committee shall transmit, from time to time, the collection so made to the "German Sanitary Commission of the State of California." at San Francisco, for further disposal. The ladies also rendered their assistance by sponsoring a concert and ball a few weeks later, the proceeds of which were turned over to the Sanitary Fund. [16] This money, amounting to seven hundred dollars, together with the five hundred previously raised by subscriptions made a total of twelve hundred dollars which was sent to the Association in San Francisco to be forwarded on to Germany "to cheer our gallant soldiers in the field, and their bereaved widows and orphans at home." [16] GERMAN PRIVATE SCHOOL In the 'Seventies, and perhaps later, a German-English school was conducted by Otto Von Ploenies, first at 227 Main Street and, later, on Second Street between Bunker Hill Avenue and Charity, The attendance in 1875 averaged twenty-six pupils. It is of interest to compare this with other foreign schools of the city. The city directory for 1875 lists a French school having an average of twenty-eight pupils and a Chinese school with an irregular attendance. [18] THE NUMERICAL STORY OF THE GERMAN POPULATION IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY In order to understand more completely the life of the Germans in this county it will be helpful to consider the number of Germans in the county and city of Los Angeles, to compare this part of the State with the rest of California, and to compare this nationality with others represented here. For the year 1850 almost no statistics are available for the State of California, A census of the city and county of Los Angeles, however, reveals that of the foreigners, excluding those born in Mexico, nearly nineteen per cent were Germans. Although only about one-third of the total number of inhabitants lived in the city, three-fourths of the Germans belonged to the urban population. [19] Comparatively complete figures are available for each of the decades from 1870 to 1900. [20] An examination of this data reveals that from 1870 to 1880 the total population increased more, proportionately, than did the German population; from 1880,to 1890, during which time a "boom" took place, the German population increased much more than did the total population; from 1890 to 1900 the increase was very slightly in favor of the total population; for the total period, that is from 1870 to 1900, the German population had an increase as great as that of the total population. In 1870 fourteen per cent of the foreign- born population of Los Angeles County was German; in 1880 the percentage was approximately the same; by 1890 it had risen to eighteen where it remained in 1900. A comparison of these percentages with those of San Francisco, Yolo and Fresno Counties reveals some interesting facts. [21] Although Los Angeles County was not one of those have the largest number of Germans, it ranked high. San Francisco made a decided gain during this period; Yolo dropped considerably; and Los Angeles had only a small gain. Even though the Germans of this county did not increase much faster than the total of other foreigners, the gain was noticeable. The increase of 1890 came in spite of the separation of a part of the territory to form Orange County, which immediately had a higher percentage than any other county in the state; the boom of 1886 and 1887 was probably the determining factor here. The German-born population of the city of Los Angeles in 1890 as compared with the foreign population from England and Ireland throws further light on the problem as does a comparison of this city with San Francisco, Oakland, and Sacramento. [22] England and Ireland have always had a large representation in the United States. Germany has varied in relation to these other two countries in this respect. According to the census reports for that year, there were fewer English, but more Irish in comparison with the Germans in San Francisco, Oakland and Sacramento. In Los Angeles there were more Germans than either English or Irish. By 1900 the city of Los Angeles had a total population of 19,964; of these 4,023 were German-born and 3,017 were English-born. [23] Of all the foreigners in Los Angeles at this time, the Germans ranked first, and the English ranked second. REASONS FOR IMMIGRATION What was it that brought these Germans to California, to this county, and to this city? The influences were various, some of which can be isolated and enumerated with illustrative examples. The unsettled political situation in Germany was one responsible factor, as may be seen in the career of Julius Guenther Weyse, one of the founders of Anaheim. [24] Mr. Weyse took part in the reform movement of 1830 whereupon he was obliged to flee to the United States for safety. In 1848 he returned to Germany, after having participated in the Texas revolution, but again he returned to this county, bought a vineyard in newly-settled Anaheim and became a resident of that German colony. The mining interests had an important influence in bringing Germans to California. Large numbers came to San Francisco and from there it was an easy matter to come to Los Angeles. Here may be cited the name of Louis Roeder, who came to New York in 1851, but after hearing frequently of the mining opportunities in California, he moved to San Francisco. [25] Only a few months were spent there, after which he came to Los Angeles and engaged in his regular trade of manufacturing wagons. Many Germans came to this county for their health. This was the case with Rev. Jacob Kogler, [26] pastor of the Lutheran church at Orange, and Mr. Carl Entenmann, [27] pioneer jeweler of Los Angeles, The advertising program of California in eastern states and in Europe also brought Germans as well as others to Southern California, Boosters were busily engaged in bringing before the public everywhere the advantages, real or fictitious, of this part of the west, and many persons were influenced to break old ties and seek their happiness in the new country. Closely connected with this, were business reasons other than the mining interests mentioned above. The repidly growing city offered splendid opportunities, and the attractive advertisements made this seem indeed like a land where a needed living, or desired wealth, could be obtained. The army also had its part, for Uncle Sam had many Germans in his service who, after having been sent to the far west, frequently became permanent settlers. An early example of this was John Schumacher, who came to Los Angeles in 1847 or 1848 with Stevenson's Regiment. [28] A short time was spent at Sutter's Creek, after which he returned to Los Angeles and became a prominent and active resident. Various minor influences were also at work bringing persons to California and to Los Angeles, The first German known to have lived here found himself in this territory as the result of a shipwreck. [29] Other Germans came as children with their families and had no voice in the matter, Then, again, there were those who had friends or relatives living in the west to attract them here. ROUTES OF TRAVEL Means and ways of coming to Los Angeles County also varied; As a general rule, comparatively few came directly frbm Germany. Usually immigrants lived for a time in the east or in San Francisco, or both, before settling in Southern California. The membership roll of the Pioneers of Los Angeles County, published in 1901, [30] shows that out of forty-seven German members at least twenty had come to Los Angeles some time after arriving in California. A few examples may serve to picture the immigrants coming to the county. Andrew Bittner, a shoemaker in Germany, came to New York in 1841, where he lived until 1847 at which time he went to New Orleans. [31] In 1852 he came to California. For sixteen years he was a watchman at the wharves in San Francisco, and then he moved to Anaheim, where he purchased a vineyard and began making wine. Another German in Anaheim was Henry Kroeger, who in 1865 had come to San Francisco directly from Germany by way of the Horn. [32] In 1862 he moved to Anaheim. John B. Haas came to California from St. Louis via Salt Lake City by ox team. [33] Harris Newmark was one of the few who came directly to Los Angeles from Germany. He has left an interesting account of his journey which was made in 1853, a time when methods and means of transportation were very poor indeed, especially to this part of the world. This young German Jew was only nineteen when he was persuaded by his brother, J. P. Newmark, who had already set up a business in Los Angeles, to come to this far-distant town. On Friday, June 1, 1853, he set sail from Gothenburg, Sweden, [35] he being one of the two sole passengers on board. At Hull, England, he disembarked, boarded a train and rode to Liverpool from which port he took the three-masted sailing vessel, Star King, for New York. One of the discomforts of the sea voyage, which gives the reader a vivid time-setting for this adventure, was the fact that after several days away from port the passengers began feeling the inconveniences of being deprived of fresh food. The supplies on hand were indeed uninviting. Writing of this Mr. Newmark says: [36] The meat commenced to deteriorate, the eggs turned stale, and the butter became rancid ; and as the days passed, everything grew worse, excepting a good supply of cheese which possessed, as usual, the faculty of improving, rather than spoiling, as it aged. Mountain water might justly have shown indignation if the contents of the barrels then on board had claimed relationship; while coffee and tea... we were compelled to drink, after a short time, without milk-the one black and the other green. The vessel had almost reached New York when it was struck by a squall and the three masts were torn off. The boat, which had nearly been capsized, drifted on a calm ocean for twelve days when a breeze came up and, by means of the improvised sails, brought them to land. The voyage from Liverpool had taken forty-nine days! The arrival at New York was on August 28, 1853, Three weeks were spent in the metropolis waiting for funds from the brother so that the journey might be continued. On September 20, young Newmark started for Nicaragua, on a line which was operating in competition with the Panama route. After reaching the Isthmus difficulties were still numerous. Part of the trip was made by foot, part on flat-bottomed boats, and part by mule or horseback. Finally the steamer was reached which took him to San Francisco, where he arrived on October 16. After two days, another steamer was boarded, there being no stage line between the northern and southern parts of the state, and the next lap of the journey was completed. This brought him to San Pedro. Because of the keen competition of the stage lines running between, this coast town and Los Angeles, it was with all possible speed that Mr. Newmark was raced to his final destination, the ride consuming two and one-half hours. On October 21, 1853, he found himself in his new place of abode. This serves to show the difficulties under which the early pioneers found themselves when undertaking the journey to the west. Travelers had a choice of going around the Horn, through the Isthmus or across the plains, the last-named a laborious trip by wagon, until the coming of railroads. GENERAL REMARKS For numerous reasons and by various routes of travel a large number of Germans came to Los Angeles County and undertook life here. Already by 1871 a Sacramento editor had become so alarmed over the German influx in general that he lamented the threatening replacement of Irish influence in politics by German. [37] He feared that the Americans on the Pacific Coast would be caught between the Chinese from one side and the Germans from the other! It was indeed true that Germans were scattered everywhere. Of a total of four hundred and twenty-seven Germans who registered to vote in 1875, three hundred and ten lived in Los Angeles, seventy-nine in Anaheim, ten in Wilmington, five in San Fernando, four in Azusa, three in San Gabriel, three in Silver Precinct, two in El Monte, two in Santa Ana, one in each of the towns of Gallatin, Los Nietos, Tustin City, San Jose, San Juan, La Ballona, San Joaquin, Halfway House, and Orange. [38] When Mr. Entenmann arrived in 1887, he was impressed by the variety of occupations in which he found his countrymen engaged. He says, [39] "The Germans could be found in every line of Bussiness industriell as well as professional. It seemed to me that the Baker, Butcher, Carpenter Contractor and Wagonmaker were Germans, so were Lawers Druggists, Doctors and Bankers." It can be safely maintained that in the cosmopolitan population for which Los Angeles was noted the Germans played no small part. Notes [1] For the account of Johann Groningen see Thampson and West, History of Los Angeles County. 33-34, and Guinn, J. M., Historical and Biographical Record. 74. [2] Los Angeles, Daily Evening Express. February 11, 1876, page 3, column 4. [3] Newmark and Newmark, Census of Los Angeles for 1850. 29-113, 117. [4] Newmark, H., Sixty Years in Southern California. 371 [5] Newmark, H., Sixty Years in Southern California. 213, 214. [6] Ibid.. 75-76 [7] Ibid.. 75. [8] Ibid.. 64 [9] Ibid.. 40. See also 39. [10] Newmark, H., Years in Southern California, 230, [11] Ibid., 64 [12] For this episode and the quotation see Newmark, H., Sixty Years in Southern California, 58-59. [13] Los Angeles, Star, August 6, 1870, page 3, column 1, hereafter given, 3/1. [14] Los Angeles, Star. August 11, 1870, 3/1 [15] Ibid.. August 12, 1870, 2/3 [16] Los Angeles, Star, September 15, 1870, 3/1 [17] Los Angelesp City Directory, 1875. 82, and 1879. 46 [18] Los Angeles, City Directory. 1875, 82. [19] Newmark and Newmark, Census of Los Angeles for 1850. 21, 29-113, 117. This census contains the following figures of interest in this connection Los Angeles County: Total population 3,530 Number born in United States and Territories 2,831 Number born in foreign countries 699 (Of these, 518 were born in Mexico) Number born in Germany 34 City of Los Angeles: Total population 1,610 Number born in foreign countries 367 Number born in Germany 26 [20] Total population taken from U. S. Census, 1900, "Population," Pt. 1, Table 4, p. 11. German population for 1870 taken from U. S. Census, 1870, Vol. 1, Table 7, pp. 346-347; for 1880 taken from Ibid., 1880. Vol. 1, Table 14, pp. 498-499; for 1890 taken from Ibid., 1890,--Vol. XV, Table 33, p. 612; for 1900 taken from Ibid., 1900, "Population," Pt. 1, Table 34, pp. 738-739,. The following figures show the total population and the German-born population of Los Angeles County from 1870 to 1900: Year Total Population German Population 1870 15,309 635 1880 33,381 1,075 1890 101,454 4,358 1900 170,298 5,677 The following figures show the percentage of foreign-born population of Los Angeles, San Francisco, Yolo, and Fresno Counties which was German, including the decades from 1870 to 1900: County 1870 1880 1890 1900 Los Angeles 14% 14% 18% 18% San Francisco 18% 19% 28% 30% Yolo 22% 28% 25% 11% Fresno 3% 7% 8% 8% [21] San Francisco and Yolo Counties were chosen because they had a large number of Germans; Fresno County because it was a large county and was among those having the least number of Germans. [22] U. S. Census, 1890, Vol. XV, Table 34, pp. 670, 674 Los San Oakland Sacramento Angeles Francisco Total Population 50,395 298,997 48,682 26,872 Total foreign-born 12,752 126,811 14,537 7,674 Germany 2,767 26,422 2,301 1,583 England 1,817 9,828 1,953 771 Ireland 1,322 30,718 3,241 1,554 [23] U. S. Census, 1900, "Population," Pt. 1, Table 35, pp. 796-799. [24] Thompson and West, History of Los Angeles County. 183. 015 [25] Guinn, J. M., Historical and Biographical Record. 265-266. [26] See below, 81. [27] See below, 40-41. [28] Newmark, H., Sixty Years in Southern California, 39. [29] See above, 1. [30] Historical,Society of Southern California, "Membership Roll of the Pioneers of Los Angeles County," in Annual Publications, V (1901), 208-214. [31] Thompson and West, History of Los Angeles County. 175. [32] Ibid., 180. [33] Guinn, J. M., Historical and Biographical Record, 250. [34] Newmark, H., Sixty Years in Southern California, 6-26 [35] He was in Sweden at the time, on a business trip with his father. [36] Newmark, H., Sixty Years in Southern California, 10-11. [37] Los Angeles, Daily News. August 2, 1871, 2/3 [38] Los Angeles County, Great Register. 1875. [39] Entenmann, Carl, Speech, 1.